ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Correspondence

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the correspondence, dated 17 January, from the hon. Member for Leominster, on behalf of a constituent in respect of compensation for loss of his wormery.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 12 March 2002
	A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 12 June 2002.

Correspondence

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the target time will be in 2002–03 for (a) Ministers to reply to letters from hon. Members and (b) officials in her Department to reply to letters received directly from members of the public.

Elliot Morley: The Department's agreed target times for replying to correspondence from hon, Members and from members of the public is 15 days.

Correspondence

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Bexhill and Battle of 11 June regarding policy guidance for county waste plans.

Elliot Morley: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 8 July 2002.

Correspondence

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to a letter from the hon. Member for Woking, dated 10 January concerning Mr. A. Giles and the British Cattle Movement service.

Elliot Morley: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 2 July 2002.

Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will provide a substantive reply to the letter from the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Turner), dated 4 February, her reference 165197, on antibiotic remedies and nitrate vulnerable zones.

Elliot Morley: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 10 June 2002.

Bovine TB

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which EU regulations govern the use of the gamma interferon test as applied to bovine TB.

Elliot Morley: Community legislation on the control of bovine TB for purposes of intra-Community trade is set out in Council Directive 64/432/EC. A recent amendment to this will allow for the use of gamma interferon as an adjunct test. We await publication in the Official Journal.

Bovine TB

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with members of the European Parliament about a possible inquiry into bovine TB and its causes.

Elliot Morley: My officials have had no discussions with members of the European Parliament on this matter.

Bovine TB

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter of 25 April from the hon. Member for Northavon regarding bovine TB.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 10 June 2002
	A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 25 May 2002.

Bovine TB

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how long it takes on average for farmers in (a) England and (b) Wales to receive the results of TB tests on their animals.

Elliot Morley: Farmers are notified immediately when TB reactors are found in their herd. The average number of days taken for the culture results of samples taken at post-mortem to become available is given in the table.
	
		
			 Country Average number of days(1)  
		
		
			 England 52 
			 Wales 53 
		
	
	(1) The average number of days between the receipt of samples at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) and reporting of the results to the State Veterinary Service Animal Health Office. Figures are based on samples received at VLA since 1 November 2001.

Bovine TB

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what extra resources have been secured in order to clear the backlog in processing the results of TB tests in England.

Elliot Morley: A claim against the Reserve has been considering how best to use the additional funding when tackling the TB backlog.

Bovine TB

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what resources are being dedicated to ensuring that the results of TB tests on animals in (a) England and (b) Wales are processed as quickly as possible.

Elliot Morley: The information is not available in the format requested, in that separate figures for England and Wales are not available. The planned expenditure for the 2002–03 financial year on the bovine tuberculosis testing programme at the Veterinary Laboratory Agency is given in the following table.
	The TB skin test gives a result at reading. The owner is notified of the skin test results immediately. Skin test results are confirmed by microbiological culture of tissues removed at post mortem. The main time delay in getting results from the culture of mycobacteria taken from post mortem samples is due to the time it takes for the mycobacteria to multiply sufficiently to be identified.
	
		£ 
		
			  Planned expenditure 
		
		
			 Surveillance for bTB (infection status of cattle, farmed deer and exotic species in GB) 2,624,701 
			 TB in cattle post-mortemed at VLA regional laboratories 10,673 
			 Surveillance for bTB (infection status of badgers and other wildlife species) 573,568 
			 TB in species apart from badgers and cattle 43,987 
			  
			 Total 3,252,929

Fishing

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will make a statement concerning the failure to meet the required targets set under MAGP IV for the pelagic sector and the effect this will have on future EU funding for fisheries from 1 January 2003;
	(2)  pursuant to her answer of 1 July 2002, Official Report, column 71, on fishing, what assessment she has made of the impact of the United Kingdom not meeting the required targets set under MAGP IV in the pelagic sector on the quota allocations from 1 January 2003 for (a) pelagic species and (b) white fish species.

Elliot Morley: The UK has chosen the option to set MAGP IV targets for the pelagic segment of the fleet in terms of fishing effort; and we expect those effort targets to be achieved at the end of 2002, as they were at the end of 2001.
	The Council of Ministers has yet to determine what penalties would apply, should a member state fail to meet its MAGP IV targets at the end of 2002.

Sellafield

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what reports she has received from the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate regarding the release of radioactive substances into the groundwater under Sellafield in Cumbria from tanks; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  if she will establish an inquiry into the leaking of radioactive substances into groundwater under Sellafield in Cumbria; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: I have not received any reports from the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate about the release of radioactive substances into groundwater under Sellafield. I am aware, however, that technetium-99 (Tc-99) has been detected in groundwater from boreholes in and around the Sellafield site. I understand that the likely source of the Tc-99 leakage is from the B24I sludge storage tanks.
	The Environment Agency has carried out an assessment of the radiological impact of the levels of Tc-99 detected and is satisfied that this would be insignificant. Recent borehole data from BNFL supports this conclusion. The groundwater at Sellafield is not used for drinking water supplies.
	The Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and the Environment Agency, respectively, have asked BNFL to undertake further monitoring of Tc-99 levels on and off the Sellafield site. The regulators will consider whether any regulatory action is necessary. In the light of the actions of the regulators I have no reason to believe that an inquiry is necessary.

Female Staff

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of the staff of her Department are women; and what the percentage was in June 1997.

Elliot Morley: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office, on 5 July 2002, Official Report, column 622W.

Subsidies

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total value was of subsidies to agriculture in the UK in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Elliot Morley: Our latest estimates relate to 2000, and suggest that in that year UK farmers received in total £4.9 billion of support. In addition to the direct payments and market support measures that fall directly to the EU and UK budgets, this includes the effect on farmers' incomes of the higher prices paid by consumers as a result of the operation of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Foot and Mouth

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the foot and mouth disease livestock movement restrictions, with special reference to the 20-day standstill rule, on the operation and profitability of livestock producers in Cheshire; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Discussions are in progress with industry stakeholders on the basis of preliminary work by the Department's economists in order to gain a better understanding of the economic impact of the current rules both in aggregate and for particular sectors.

Foot and Mouth

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the reasons for the maintenance of the foot and mouth disease livestock movement restrictions, with specific reference to the 20-day standstill rule.

Elliot Morley: There is firm veterinary and scientific advice in support of the present movement controls which are designed to protect against the rapid spread of any new incursion of disease.
	The 20 day standstill is an important element of these controls for two reasons. Firstly, it allows time for the disease to become evident in animals brought on to a holding and so improves the prospect of identifying disease on infected premises before animals move off. Secondly, it also prevents potentially infected animals being moved off the holding during the 20 day period and so slows the rate of spread of any undetected disease.

Livestock Movements

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she intends to remove foot and mouth disease livestock movement restrictions, with particular reference to the 20-day standstill rule; whether she proposes to lift the 20-day standstill rule in time for the marketing of the lamb crop at the autumn sales; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: No decisions about the future of the 20 day standstill will be taken before the publication of the reports of the Royal Society and Lessons Learned inquiries.

Rabies

Eric Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans there are to increase the number of ports that will allow the import and export of animals that have been vaccinated against rabies.

Elliot Morley: Animals subject to the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974, as amended, must enter the UK through Dover (Eastern Docks), Harwich (Parkeston Quay), Hull, Portsmouth or Southampton. If the animals are vaccinated against rabies but do not meet the requirements of the Pet Travel Scheme they must go into quarantine.
	However, dogs and cats which fully meet the requirements of the Pet Travel Scheme may enter England, without going into quarantine, through the ports at Dover, Portsmouth, Harwich, Poole and Plymouth. These ports are the ones used by carriers on routes approved by this Department. My Department will consider applications for approval from transport companies for routes into England using other ports. It is currently processing an application for a route which would use Newhaven. Whether transport companies choose to seek approval is a commercial and operational decision for them.

Inland Waterways

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she holds a definitive map of the navigable inland waterways network in England.

Elliot Morley: The Secretary of State does not hold such a map. However, "Waterways for Tomorrow", the Government's policy paper on the waterways contains a general map of the inland waterways of England and Wales. A copy of this document is in the Library of the House. Maps of the inland waterway system are also available from commercial sources.

Fallen Stock

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she plans to seek derogations from the EU Animal By-Products Regulation to allow the on-farm trial of fallen stock in the upland areas of (a) Wales, (b) England, (c) Southern Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 9 July 2002
	I am not planning to seek further derogations from the EU Animal By-Products Regulation with respect of on-farm burial of fallen stock.

Sheepmeat

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much sheepmeat was imported into the United Kingdom from each of the other countries of the European Union in each of the last five years.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 9 July 2002
	The table shows the volume of sheepmeat imported into the United Kingdom from each of the other countries of the European Union.
	
		UK imports of sheepmeat from the EU 1997–2001(2) -- Tonnes
		
			 Country 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Netherlands 6,456 5,106 4,809 4,419 4,425 
			 Irish Republic 2,899 2,616 3,387 2,683 3,055 
			 Spain 2,368 1,920 1,287 1,295 1,625 
			 France 1,208 1,214 1,419 1,617 1,871 
			 Germany 1,668 878 594 671 1,350 
			 Belgium-Luxembourg 442 482 208 332 829 
			 Italy 68 150 3 16 159 
			 Denmark 44 32 165 28 112 
			 Austria 16 — 10 — — 
			 Finland 13 — — — — 
			  
			 Total 15,182 12,398 11,882 11,061 13,426 
		
	
	(2) Product weight. Excludes exports of live sheep.
	Source:
	H.M. Customs and Excise
	granted which provides additional funding for DEFRA for several areas in the current financial year. We are now

Badger Culling

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 11 March 2002, Official Report, column 786W, on badger culling, what preliminary findings have emerged from badger culling triplets B, C and F.

Elliot Morley: The Independent Scientific Group for Cattle TB (ISG) advise that it is too early for an analysis of results. It is a basic rule for scientific trials that results are not published prematurely. It has however been possible to complete a preliminary analysis of the risk factors associated with cattle TB, and this is set out in the ISG's Third Report, available in the House Library.
	A summary of the completed work for each triplet is shown on DEFRA's website at www.defra.gov.uk/ animalh/tb/point5/p5prog.

Public Footpaths

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what recent steps the Department has taken to open (a) more footpaths in the countryside and (b) more private land to the public;
	(2)  what (a) discussions the Department has had with private landowners and (b) steps it has taken to encourage private landowners to open their land to the public.

Alun Michael: The Department recently consulted on draft guidance to local highway authorities in relation to the requirement in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to prepare and review rights of way improvement plans. Once the relevant provisions are in force, later this year, local highway authorities will be required to take a strategic look at how the local network of rights of way takes into account the needs of the public and to prepare a statement of the action that they propose to take to improve the network, including creating new rights of way where they are shown to be needed.
	In January this year we issued a consultation paper on proposals for regulations under section 16 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 which enables landowners voluntarily to give people a statutory right of access to their land. The consultation ended on 15 April and we are presently considering the responses from landowners and others. The Department is also working closely with the Forestry Commission which, earlier this year, arranged a number of seminars for private woodland owners on the provision of access under section 16. In addition, private landowners are encouraged to allow permissive public access under DEFRA's agri-environment schemes. The provisions are currently the subject of a public consultation that began on 8 July and will end on 27 September 2002.

Public Footpaths

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government have taken to improve safety on public footpaths and other rights of way that are (a) poorly lit, (b) in desolate areas and (c) in areas where crime is above average.

Alun Michael: I recently published draft guidance arising from rights of way provisions in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. The draft guidance encourages local highway authorities to take positive management measures, such as consideration of the use of lighting and schemes to encourage informal surveillance to counter problems of criminal activity on public rights of way.
	Where rights of way are facilitating high levels of crime in built up areas the provisions that are covered in the guidance will enable such rights of way to be diverted or extinguished.

Public Footpaths

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the development of a National Access Database; what funding she has made to the Countryside Agency to fund a feasibility study into a national access database; and when the feasibility study will be published.

Alun Michael: The Government announced the plan to establish a National Access Database in the Rural White Paper "Our countryside: the future a fair deal for rural England" in November 2000. The Countryside Agency has commissioned consultants to look at the feasibility of establishing such a database. The feasibility study is being funded from within the Agency's annual grant in aid settlement. The Agency will publish a research note in September 2002 and use the findings of the study to make recommendations on how the project should proceed.

Biofuels

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons the UK Government did not support the development of mandatory and indicative targets for biofuels in the relevant EU draft directive.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	In common with the majority of other European Union member states, the UK Government do not support the European Commission's proposals for mandatory targets applied uniformly to every state, as originally proposed by the European Commission in the Biofuels Directive. In order to maintain the UK's ability to set national policy on the basis of the UK's own domestic circumstances, the Government favour the adoption of flexible, indicative targets; an approach endorsed by the European Scrutiny Committees of both Houses of Parliament.
	The Government actively support the use of transport biofuels, in particular through the 20 pence per litre reduction in fuel duty on biodiesel—due to come into effect shortly—and through the further round of the Green Fuels Challenge, offering zero duty for pilots demonstrating innovative technologies for environmentally beneficial fuels.

Pesticides Safety Directorate

Rosemary McKenna: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets she has set the Pesticides Safety Directorate for 2002–03.

Elliot Morley: I have set the Pesticides Safety Directorate the following performance targets for 2003–03.
	Quality of service
	To complete evaluations and contribute to the EC Review Programme under Council Directive 91/414/EEC, according to the processing times set out in Table 1.
	1. To deliver high quality scientific work to underpin the protection of human health and the environment.
	2. To provide clear and accessible public information about pesticide issues consistent with sustainable and economic production.
	3. To ensure the UK's objectives are reflected in the revised Council Directive 91/414/EEC and to maintain our international reputation as a leading regulatory authority.
	Efficiency
	1. To implement a Quality system by the end of December 2002 that enables an improvement in quality and efficiency and which takes account of priorities identified in the 2001 Customer Satisfaction Survey.
	2. To deliver 3 per cent. efficiency savings through the combination of achieving reductions to processing times for applications for approval and through savings in cost of outputs.
	Financial performance
	1. To recover from industry and Government the full economic cost (as calculated according to resource accounting principles) of its services.
	
		Table 1 Approvals group: predicted workflow and target processing times for 2002–03
		
			  Estimated workflow Target processing time (weeks)  
			 Application type 2002–03 2002–03 2001–02 
		
		
			 UK Reviews
			 Anticholinesterase programme 5 — — 
			 Other activity 3 — — 
			 EC Reviews Rapporteur (2nd stage)
			 Completeness 10 26 n/a 
			 Evaluation 4 52 n/a 
			 
			 New active substances
			 Evaluation
			 Sift 8 5 6 
			 Full 8 42 48 
			 Resubmission 3 42 48 
			 
			 Departmentals 8 42 45 
			 
			 Re-registration 4 40 — 
			 
			 Normals 135 30 35 
			 Associated fast-normals 25 30 35 
			 
			 Assessed experimental approval 2 20 20 
			 Extrapolated experimental approval 2 10 10 
			 
			 Emergency off label 15 9 10 
			 Non-emergency off label 30 25 30 
			 
			 Mutual recognition 3 20 20 
			 
			 Fast 200 10 10 
			 Parallel imports 50 9 10 
			 
			 Administrative fast 700 4 4 
			 Administrative experimental 100 1 1 
			 Simplified own-use parallel 10 2 2 
		
	
	Note:
	Overall target—90 per cent. of applications with a stated processing time must be completed within that time.

Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will publish the 2001–02 Annual Report for the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science.

Michael Meacher: The 2001–02 Annual Report and Accounts for the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science were laid before Parliament today. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets she has set the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science for 2002–03.

Michael Meacher: I have set the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science the following performance targets for 2002–03.
	Quality of Service
	To make satisfactory progress with the action plan resulting from the 1999–2000 Science Audit.
	To manage the Agency in an effective manner including pursuit of commercial exploitation of research outputs.
	Efficiency
	To give satisfaction to customers in the way that outputs are provided, as measured by the CEFAS Customer Satisfaction Survey.
	To achieve savings and efficiency gains in a range of key functions.
	Financial Performance
	To recover from Government Departments and Agencies and external customers the full economic costs of the Agency's services.

Livestock Diseases

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has received the report of the Royal Society's Scientific Review of Infectious Diseases in Livestock; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: I am delighted that the Royal Society have today published the report of their independent Scientific Review of Infectious Diseases in Livestock. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.
	This report was commissioned by the Government following the unprecedented outbreak of foot and mouth disease last year. I am very grateful to Professor Sir Brian Follett and his committee for producing such a thorough and excellent report in such a short space of time. This is a very significant contribution to our work to strengthen our ability to guard against and deal with animal disease.
	I welcome the importance that the report places on the livestock industry in this country and Great Britain having animal disease free status. We are already taking action on imports and disease surveillance to protect this and the report's views on these matters will be of great assistance.
	More widely, we intend to press ahead with an animal health and welfare strategy and will need to consider carefully the recommendations made by the report on research and development in the light of yesterday's spending review announcement.
	The report's recommendations will be of crucial importance in developing the Government's emergency preparedness for controlling animal diseases, and we will need to study these closely, in particular the recommended approach to vaccination against foot and mouth disease. The Government has never rejected vaccination as an option in the fight against foot and mouth. The report recognises that there are aspects of vaccination, in particular trade and technical issues, which are not yet resolved, but which can and should be resolved. Even then, vaccination will not necessarily be a panacea and will not necessarily be right in all circumstances. The report notes that, even with emergency vaccination in place, culling would still be necessary.
	I welcome the Royal Society's endorsement of the need to take forward the work we have in hand on a greatly improved contingency plan for foot and mouth. Its findings on biosecurity and animal movements will also be of particular importance.
	In taking work forward on the report, we will need to involve stakeholders, in particular the farming industry, who have a share in the responsibility for maintaining the animal disease free status recommended by the report.
	I intend to give a fuller initial response on the recommendations in this report when the Lessons Learned Inquiry has reported on Monday 22 July. It is also intended, later in the year, to issue a detailed reply to the recommendations in both these independent reports.

High Hedges

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the Government have taken to ameliorate the problem of (a) leylandii and (b) other rapidly growing trees associated with neighbour nuisance.

Tony McNulty: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government supported the high hedges Bill introduced last Session by the hon. Member for Solihull (Mr. Taylor). Unfortunately, it fell due to lack of time before the election. Although it has not been possible to bring forward a high hedges Bill in the current Session, we remain committed to legislation allowing local authorities to deal with complaints about high hedges as soon as parliamentary time can be found.
	In December last year, we published guidelines on "Hedge height and light loss" developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE). The guidelines explain how to calculate whether a hedge is likely to block out too much light from a garden and from the main rooms of a house. These scientifically based tests might carry some weight with hedge owners and help them to understand the impact of their hedge. As a result, they might be more willing to negotiate with neighbours.
	We are now preparing a leaflet for members of the public, advising them how they might approach their neighbours to try to agree a solution to their hedge problems. The leaflet will include information on a range of factors that people might consider in settling on the right hedge height for their particular circumstances. It will cover such matters as what heights will ensure privacy; those at which a hedge can be safely maintained; and those likely to block light to neighbouring properties.
	We expect to publish the leaflet later in the summer and will provide copies to all Members of Parliament.

TRANSPORT

Railtrack Asset Register

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the programme developed by the ORR for Railtrack to create an asset register; and what stage (a) they had reached by 5 October 2001 and (b) they have reached.

David Jamieson: holding answer 17 June 2002
	Railtrack is required to establish and maintain a register of the condition, capability and capacity of its assets, and to demonstrate that it is taking all necessary steps to do so by the earliest practicable date. Railtrack submits plans for the Rail Regulator's review every six months.
	By 5 October 2001, Railtrack had completed its assessment of the state of asset information within the company; finalised its strategy for managing asset information; defined the work that it needed to do to implement that strategy; and completed all data collection for the asset register.
	The Rail Regulator is currently reviewing Railtrack's latest plans, submitted in April 2002, taking into account the views of key stakeholders. He will then consider in consultation with Railtrack what should be published and when.

Park-and-ride Schemes

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the park-and-ride schemes introduced in each of the last two years, including the start date for each scheme; and if he will list the further schemes that are being proposed, including their expected start dates.

David Jamieson: The following chart lists major local public transport projects that contain proposals for park-and-ride within them, that have been approved or provisionally approved. The expected start dates are those provided by the authorities in July 2001 as part of the Local Transport Plans annual progress reports.
	
		
			 Authority  Scheme Expected start date 
		
		
			 Bradford South Bradford Integrated Transport Improvements November 2001 
			 Cheshire Chester-Deeside Transport Scheme May 2004 
			 Durham Belmont Interchange October 2003 
			 Tyne and Wear PTA Four Lanes End Interchange April 2002 
			 Wiltshire Salisbury Integrated Transport Measures April 2002 
		
	
	The provision of parking facilities, including park-and-ride, is a matter for the local highway authority and rail operators. In addition to the major schemes, a number of smaller schemes have been implemented or proposed by the local authorities as part of their local transport strategies. These have included proposals for the extension of existing sites or new sites for both bus-based and rail-based schemes. The smaller schemes as presented in the local transport plans annual progress reports submitted in July 2001 are summarised in the table. Details of the smaller schemes, including proposed timetables are not kept centrally.
	
		Schemes listed in LTP submissions
		
			 Type of scheme July 2001 July 2002 
		
		
			 Bus-based P and R—new 7 11 
			 Bus-based P and R—extension 6 7 
			 Rail-based P and R—new 4 6 
			 Rail-based P and R—extension 7 8

Ministerial Meetings

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on which occasions since 7 June 2001 the minutes of ministerial meetings have been placed in the Library; what the reason was in each case; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Following the undertaking he gave to the Transport Select Committee, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tyneside, North (Mr. Byers) sent to the Committee and placed in the Libraries of the House on 27 November 2001, a copy of the minutes of a meeting he had held with John Robinson, the then chairman of Railtrack, on 25 July.

Car Use

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to discourage car use by engineering greater road congestion.

David Jamieson: None.

Rural Stations

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what resources the Government will be putting into rural stations for services and maintenance of stations in the next three years.

David Jamieson: Station maintenance is funded from the generality of Railtrack's income. Rural stations and services can also benefit from the £430 million funding available through the Rail Passenger Partnership (RPP) operated by the Strategic Rail Authority. Extended in December 2001 to run for 10 years, the RPP fund is designed to assist in the provision of new or enhanced local and regional rail services or facilities.

A404

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to alter the slip roads on the A404(M) and A404 approaching the junction with the M4 and the M40.

David Jamieson: holding answer 11 July 2002
	Proposed improvements to the M40/A404 junction at Handy Cross include a new slip road from the A404 to the westbound M40.
	Any major changes to the junction between the A404(M) and the M4 are subject to the Thames Valley Multi-Modal Study. In the interim, it is proposed to widen the immediate approach from the A404(M) to the junction roundabout as a low cost measure to decrease queue lengths and increase throughput on A404(M).

Tubelines and Metronet Consortia

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contingency plans he has for the case where there is failure of a key partner in the Tubelines and Metronet consortia; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The provisions of the PPP competition process allow for changes in the shareholders of the bidders, subject to the consent of London Underground. The contracts themselves also contain provisions relating to changes in a consortium's shareholders.

Network Rail

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the SRA has made PAYE-liable salary payments to employees of Network Rail.

David Jamieson: No. The Strategic Rail Authority does not employ those working on the Network Rail bid team.

Network Rail

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date Network Rail was legally named.

David Jamieson: Network Rail Limited was incorporated on 22 March 2002.

Network Rail

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 10 July 2002, Official Report, column 984–85W, ref. 67062, what estimate he has made of the cost (a) to public funds of providing an indemnity and (b) to Railtrack and its shareholders if such an indemnity were not in place.

David Jamieson: With Railtrack Group expected to take full advantage of exemptions in tax legislation for disposals by companies of substantial shareholdings, there would be no tax liability as a result of its disposal of Railtrack Plc and, therefore, no additional cost to public funds.

Network Rail

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to which (a) organisations and (b) individuals the SRA has made payments in relation to the establishment of Network Rail.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority has made payments to the following bodies:
	Ove Arup and Partners
	Natwest Card Centre—Purch
	Sita Security Shredding
	Pret a Manger
	Coucher Pender
	Specialised Contract Interior
	Astor Lodge Holdings Ltd.
	Claire Howard Consultancies
	Durance Ltd.
	Financial Dynamics
	SQE Integrated Solutions
	Blue Haven
	Egon Zehender International
	JJR Partnership
	Dentons Catering Equipment
	Fastways Flyers
	Socite Generale
	Partnerships UK plc
	Yellow House Consulting
	Asset Performance Man. Ltd.
	Bechtel Ltd.
	Coolwater (London) Ltd.
	Demita Plants
	Wings Catering Equipment Ltd.
	Morgan Spencer c/o LSM
	Supplies Team.

Network Rail

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place a copy of the Network Rail directors' incentive plan in the Library.

David Jamieson: No, Network Rail intend to prepare and publish an incentive plan annually.

Network Rail

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to whom potential applicants to serve as members of Network Rail should apply; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Applicants should apply to Network Rail at their registered address.

Network Rail

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the members of Network Rail to approve the appointment of directors.

David Jamieson: The timing of the arrangements for the appointment of directors is a matter for Network Rail.

Network Rail

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish reports and accounts for Network Rail for the period between its inception and the date on which it becomes a private sector company in the national accounts.

David Jamieson: No, this is the responsibility of Network Rail.

Network Rail

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the members of Network Rail will be appointed.

David Jamieson: This is a matter for Network Rail, but I understand that the company wish to appoint members as soon as possible, if their bid is successful.

London to Ipswich Multi-modal Study

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the London to Ipswich Multi-modal Study relating to the rail and road infrastructure within the Haven Gateway sub-region.

John Spellar: This study will report later this year. We will then consider the recommendations once we have received advice from the east of England local government conference.

United States Embassy

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what authority representatives of the United States embassy prevent public pedestrian access to the pavement outside the United States embassy.

John Spellar: The Metropolitan police, using their common law powers, control public pedestrian access outside the United States embassy to maintain the security of those who work at, visit or live nearby the location. The United States embassy does not itself prevent public pedestrian access. The security arrangements are regularly reviewed.

Public Highway Closures

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 7 February 2002, Official Report, column 1094W, on public highway closures, if he will list the roads in London in respect of which he has sought an order under section 116 of the Highways Act 1980.

John Spellar: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

US-UK Air Services

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what communications he has received in the last three months from the European Commission regarding the regulation of UK-US aviation; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: We have had correspondence from the Commission about a complaint by bmi british midland about the operation of the Bermuda 2 agreement with the United States.

Heathrow Airport

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what figures his Department has collated for the SERAS report on comparative rates of growth over the past five years at (a) Heathrow airport and (b) its competitors.

David Jamieson: The Civil Aviation Authority published statistics show the rate of growth in terminal passengers at Heathrow airport over the last five years. These are set out in the table below together with equivalent figures for Heathrow's main European competitors.
	
		Terminal passengers -- million
		
			  Heathrow Amsterdam Paris (CDG) Frankfurt 
		
		
			 1997 57.84 31.02 35.10 39.68 
			 1998 60.35 33.95 38.47 42.15 
			 1999 61.97 36.43 43.48 45.43 
			 2000 64.27 39.27 48.14 49.05 
			 2001 60.45 39.31 47.94 48.29 
			 Percentage increase +4.5 +26.7 +36.5 +21.7 
		
	
	Source:
	CAA statistics (Heathrow only) and DP statistics.

Light Rail and Tram Links

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library statistics relating to the average journey time, distinguishing between scheduled and excess, on the (a) DLR, (b) Tyne and Wear Metro, (c) Manchester Metro link, (d) South Yorkshire Supertram, (e) Midland Metro and (f) Croydon Tramlink, giving the source for each data set used.

David Jamieson: Information is not available for (c) Manchester Metro link. The available information for the other five light rail systems has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

NATS

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what help will be given to NATS to make sure that the problems of computer failure are addressed.

David Jamieson: These are operational matters for NATS, who have already introduced measures to address the problems which caused the recent computer failures.

NATS

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what the overall manning level of air traffic controllers at Swanwick has been, expressed as a percentage of optimal manning levels since its opening;
	(2)  how much time has been lost to flight delays in the London Flight Information Region in each month since January 1999;
	(3)  how many overload reports have been made by air traffic controllers in the London Flight Information Region in each month since January 1999;
	(4)  what the full establishment of air traffic controllers in the London Flight Information Region has been in each month of the past three years; and what the current establishment of air traffic controllers is;
	(5)  how much time has been lost to absenteeism by air traffic controllers in the London Flight Information Region in each month since January 1999.

David Jamieson: These are operational matters for National Air Traffic Services Ltd (NATS).

Bus Services

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will review the bus service operating tolerance guidelines introduced on 2 April.

David Jamieson: The guidelines were introduced by the Traffic Commissioners and any review would be a matter for them.

Bus Services

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many more buses there are on UK roads since 1997; and what improvements in bus travel have been made.

David Jamieson: Figures for Great Britain from the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) show that there were 78,577 buses and coaches with nine or more seats registered on 31 December 1997. On 31 March 2002, the equivalent figure was 89,867, an increase of 11,290.
	In the same period, 31,386 buses and coaches were newly registered. The average age of the local service bus fleet has fallen from 9.4 years in 1997 to 8.4 years in 2001 and the bus industry is committed to reducing it to 8.0 years and maintaining it at that level in line with the Government's 10-year plan for transport. From 31 December 2000 all new buses used on local or scheduled services have been accessible to disabled people including wheelchair users.
	Bus service provision in rural areas has been enhanced since 1998 by additional funding to local authorities in the form of Rural Bus Subsidy Grant (RBSG) and Rural Bus Challenge (RBC). RBSG funding for 2001–04 is £138 million and is supporting 1,800 new and enhanced services in rural areas. The RBC competitions have provided £69.8 million to enable 213 innovative local authority schemes for rural communities to be introduced. Since 2001 the Urban Bus Challenge, targeted at urban communities suffering from high levels of deprivation, has resulted in awards of £15.3 million to 32 schemes in 24 local authority areas.
	Local authorities are encouraged to consider installing bus priority measures where they are feasible and sensible. The local transport settlement for 2002–03 will help fund up to 110 bus priority measures.

RMT Strike

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with London Underground management on the strikes called by the RMT union for 17 and 18 July.

David Jamieson: This is a matter for London Underground. However, the Government are extremely disappointed that the RMT has decided to call industrial action. We urge both sides to do all they can to reach agreement and avoid making the 3 million people who rely on the tube each day suffer again.

Roads

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the Government have done since 1997 to convince people to use methods of transport apart from the car.

David Jamieson: We published our Integrated Transport White Paper in 1998, and our 10-year plan for Transport in 2000. These documents set out our policy for promoting choice for the travelling public. Initiatives we have taken or are taking to promote alternative forms of transport to the car include:
	Introduction of Bus Quality Partnerships; introduction of a new Urban Bus Challenge Fund; guaranteeing half-fare travel concession for elderly and disabled people;
	Increased funding for rural transport; resulting in over 1,800 new or enhanced services so far in England alone. In supporting 150 innovative rural transport schemes under the Rural Bus Challenge scheme;
	Rural Transport Partnerships which we aim to have in every rural community in England by next year;
	Appointment of a new team of regional cycling co-ordinators, to support delivery of the National Cycling Strategy, and announced funding for the first 10 cycling projects under a new £2 million Cycling Projects Fund;
	Preparation of a draft national walking strategy which will be issued for consultation in due course;
	£1.5 billion for local authorities in England to implement their Local Transport Plans in 2002–03. These include many measures designed to make public transport more available, more reliable and more attractive;
	Encouraging and supporting the take-up of travel plans by businesses, schools, hospitals, local authorities and other major employers;
	Establishment of "traveline"; a national telephone-based public transport information system;
	Working on "Transport Direct", an internet programme which aims to provide travellers with all the information they need. This will be online in 2003;
	Supporting a range of travel awareness campaigns including "Walk to School, Bike Week" and "In town, without my car".

Roads

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of new road have been constructed since 1997.

David Jamieson: The public road length of Great Britain at 1 April 2001 was estimated to be 3,066 miles longer than at 1 April 1997. Motorways accounted for 59 miles of this increase.

Roads

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made with the plans for new toll roads and motorways.

David Jamieson: There are no such plans. The M6 toll (the Birmingham northern relief road) is already under construction and is expected to open in early 2004.

Secondary Fires

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of secondary fires were (a) on grassland and heath, (b) in refuse, (c) in derelict buildings and (d) in none of the above in the last 12 months.

Nick Raynsford: I have been asked to reply.
	The information in the table relates to secondary fires attended by UK local authority fire brigades in 2000.
	
		Secondary fires(3) by brigade area, UK 2000
		
			  Total   Location/Item  
			 Brigade secondary fires(3) Derelict buildings Grasslands/ heathlands(4) Refuse Other(5) 
		
		
			 United Kingdom 241,357 4 24 61 10 
			   
			 England and Wales 197,253 4 24 61 11 
			   
			 England 179,753 4 22 63 11 
			   
			 England—non-Met counties 86,934 4 25 59 12 
			 Avon 2,837 4 22 66 8 
			 Bedfordshire 1,485 5 19 60 16 
			 Berkshire 2,054 3 28 0 69 
			 Buckinghamshire 1,888 2 14 66 18 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,678 4 27 51 19 
			 Cheshire 3,778 4 22 70 5 
			 Cleveland 5,028 1 17 79 3 
			 Cornwall 848 2 50 41 7 
			 Cumbria 1,538 6 19 68 6 
			 Derbyshire 2,244 5 29 53 13 
			 Devon 2,314 5 25 60 11 
			 Dorset 1,646 3 52 31 14 
			 Durham 3,317 5 26 65 4 
			 East Sussex 1,603 3 22 62 14 
			 Essex 4,474 3 32 51 14 
			 Gloucestershire 929 5 23 65 7 
			 Hampshire 4,602 3 27 58 12 
			 Hereford and Worcester 1,514 2 33 46 18 
			 Hertfordshire 2,127 2 26 57 15 
			 Humberside 4,819 5 18 71 6 
			 Isle of Wight 172 4 38 51 8 
			 Kent 4,326 3 17 57 23 
			 Lancashire 6,451 4 12 77 7 
			 Leicestershire 2,346 4 31 55 10 
			 Lincolnshire 1,105 7 30 53 10 
			 Norfolk 1,312 4 28 61 7 
			 North Yorkshire 1,153 3 23 64 10 
			 Northamptonshire 1,943 4 14 60 22 
			 Northumberland 1,339 2 37 56 6 
			 Nottinghamshire 3,620 5 42 42 10 
			 Oxfordshire 999 3 24 61 13 
			 Shropshire 1,209 2 39 52 7 
			 Somerset 745 3 22 67 9 
			 Staffordshire 3,233 4 35 54 7 
			 Suffolk 979 2 32 53 13 
			 Surrey 1,623 3 29 54 15 
			 Warwickshire 1,443 8 30 48 15 
			 West Sussex 1,428 3 27 51 19 
			 Wiltshire 780 3 24 63 9 
			 Isles of Scilly 5 — 100 — — 
			   
			 England—Met counties 92,819 5 19 66 10 
			 Greater Manchester 14,189 7 12 75 5 
			 Merseyside 12,810 4 18 73 5 
			 South Yorkshire 6,844 8 26 53 12 
			 Tyne and Wear 8,821 2 22 69 6 
			 West Midlands 12,855 5 31 55 8 
			 West Yorkshire 10,908 8 14 68 11 
			 Greater London 26,392 3 17 64 16 
			
			 Wales 17,500 3 43 46 8 
			 North Wales 2,642 2 41 52 6 
			 Mid and West Wales 4,309 2 50 40 8 
			 South Wales 10,549 3 40 48 9 
			   
			 Northern Ireland 11,672 6 32 55 7 
			   
			 Scotland 32,432 5 24 65 7 
			 Strathclyde 18,920 6 23 64 7 
			 Highland and Islands 657 2 58 33 7 
			 Grampian 1,537 5 29 60 7 
			 Tayside 2,644 4 17 76 4 
			 Lothian and Borders 5,183 3 22 69 6 
			 Fife 1,829 2 31 62 5 
			 Central 1,374 4 23 64 9 
			 Dumfries 288 2 26 66 6 
		
	
	(3) Secondary fires are those fires which did not involve property, casualties or rescues or were attended by four or fewer appliances.
	(4) Includes intentional straw and stubble burning.
	(5) Includes outdoor structures and derelict vehicles.

Land Records

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what steps he has taken to encourage local authorities to adopt a policy of differential charges for providing answers to conveyancing search inquiries; what further steps he will take; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many local authorities have digitised their local land charges and associated records and obtained the necessary computer equipment to connect to the National Land Information Service; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many local authorities have applied to his Department for funding to assist them in digitising their land records and obtaining the necessary computer equipment to connect to the National Land Information Service; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to digitise their land records and obtain the necessary computer equipment to connect to the National Land Information Service; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  how many applications by local authorities have been approved by his Department for funding to assist them in digitising their land records and obtaining the necessary computer equipment to connect to the National Land Information Service; and what the total value is of the approvals granted;
	(6)  what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to apply to his Department for funding to assist them in digitising their land records and obtaining the necessary computer equipment to connect to the National Land Information Service; and if he will make a statement;
	(7)  what the total value is of the applications which have been made by local authorities to his Department for funding to assist them in digitising their land records and obtaining the necessary computer equipment to connect to the National Land Information Service; and if he will make a statement;
	(8)  how many local authorities at 1 April were at level (a) 3 and (b) 2 in their development of links with the National Land Information Service; and how many local authorities he expects by December to be at level (i) 3 and (ii) 2 in their development of links with the National Land Information Service.

Nick Raynsford: I have been asked to reply.
	The National Land Information Services (NLIS) is a project, which has been developed and is run by the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) for local government.
	NLIS is an important part of the Government's policy to improve the home buying process. In particular it has the potential of significantly improving the turnaround times for conveyancing searches. We have written to local authorities drawing the benefits of both NLIS and the associated National Land and Property Gazetteer project to their attention. I have placed a copy of that letter in the House Library.
	From information provided to us by the IDeA as at 28 May 2002, we understand for local authorities in England that: 117 of the 388 authorities are electronically connected to NLIS with 81 authorities connected at Level 2, and 36 at Level 3.
	From information provided to us by the IDeA as at 28 May 2002, we understand for local authorities in England and Wales that: there are 132 local land and property gazetteers (LLPGs) produced by local authorities which are linked to the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG); with a further 117 gazetteers in prospect to be linked to the NLPG in the near future; and a further 33 local authorities known to be developing LLPGs.
	There is no direct funding available from Government for local authorities to participate with NLIS. The Government are providing £155 million over the next two years to local authorities and to partnerships of local authorities targeted towards helping authorities electronically enabling all their services.
	Fees for searches of the local land charges register are fixed by statutory instrument in accordance with the Local Land Charges Act 1975. Otherwise, it is for local authorities themselves to set income targets and fees for dealing with conveyancers' inquiries. However they must do so taking account of the cost of providing the service.

DEFENCE

Weapons Systems

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will list the forecast in-service date as at 31 March (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002 for the (i) Type 23 Frigate, (ii) Single-role minehunter, (iii) Sting Ray Torpedo, (iv) Sonar 2087 Type 45 Destroyer, (iv) Seawolf Block 2, (vi) C-17, (vii) Auxiliary Oiler, (viii) Vanguard Class and (ix) Trident II;
	(2)  if he will list the forecast cost of demonstration and manufacture phase as at 31 March (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002 for the (i) Type 23 Frigate, (i) Single-role Minehunter, (iii) Sting Ray Torpedo, (iv) Sonar 2087 Type 45 Destroyer, (v) Seawolf Block 2; C-17, (vi) Auxiliary Oiler, (vii) Vanguard Class and (viii) Trident II;
	(3)  if he will list the (a) date of initial gate, (b) target date for main gate approval and (c) date of main gate approval for the (i) Type 23 Frigate, (ii) single-role, (iii) Minehunter, (iv) Sting Ray Torpedo, (v) Sonar 2087 Type 45 Destroyer, (vi) Seawolf Block 2, (vii) C-17, (viii) Auxiliary Oiler, (ix) Vanguard Class and (x) Trident II;
	(4)  if he list the (a) approved cost of assessment phase at initial gate, (b) actual cost of assessment phase, (c) approved cost of demonstration and manufacture phase at main gate and (d) approved in-service date at main gate for the (i) Type 23 Frigate, (ii) Single-role Minehunter, (iii) Sting Ray torpedo, (iv) Sonar 2087 Type 45 Destroyer, (v) Seawolf Block 2, (vi) C-17, (vii) Auxiliary Oiler, (viii) Vanguard Class and (ix) Trident II.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 15 July 2002
	I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Weapons Systems

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the forecast in-service date was as at 31 March (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002 for the (i) COBRA (Counter Battery Radar), (ii) Chinook MSH/HC2A, (iii) Chinook MSH/HC3, (iv) BR 90 Bridge Systems, (v) SHIELDER, (vi) Combined Arms Tactical Trainer and (vii) Medium and Light Utility truck;
	(2)  if he will list the forecast in-service date as at 31 March (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002 for the (i) COBRA (Counter Battery Radar), (ii) Chinook MSH/HC2A, (iii) Chinook MSH/HC3, (iv) BR 90 Bridge Systems, (v) SHIELDER; Combined Arms Tactical trainer and (vi) Medium and Light Utility truck;
	(3)  if he will list the (a) date of initial gate, (b) target date for main gate approval and (c) date of main gate approval for the (i) COBRA (Counter Battery Radar), (ii) Chinook MSH/HC2A, (iii) Chinook MSH/HC3, (iv) BR 90 Bridge Systems, (v) SHIELDER, (vi) Combined Arms Tactical Trainer and (vii) Medium and Light Utility truck;
	(4)  if he will list the (a) approved cost of assessment phase at initial gate, (b) actual cost of assessment phase, (c) approved cost of demonstration and manufacture phase at main gate and (d) approved in-service date at main gate for the (i) COBRA (Counter Battery Radar), (ii) Chinook MSH/HC2A, (iii) Chinook MSH/HC3, (iv) BR 90 Bridge Systems, (v) SHIELDER, (vi) Combined Arms Tactical Trainer and (vii) Medium and Light Utility truck.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 15 July 2002
	I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Weapons Systems

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) date of initial gate, (b) target date for main gate approval and (c) approved cost of assessment phase at initial gate for the (i) future Carrier-Bourne aircraft, (ii) future Carrier, (iii) Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System, (iv) Lightweight Mobile Artillery Weapon System (Gun) and (v) Microwave Landing System.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 15 July 2002
	I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Weapons Systems

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will list the forecast in-service date as at 31 March (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002 for the (i) Tornado F3-weapon system upgrade, (ii) Sea Harrier FRS1 to F/A2 conversions, (iii) Next Generation Anti-Armour Weapon and (iv) Eurofighter Aircrew Synthetic Training Aids;
	(2)  if he will list the forecast cost of demonstration and manufacture phase as at 31 March (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002 for the (i) Tornado F3-weapon system upgrade (ii) Sea Harrier FRS1 to F/A2 conversions, (iii) Next Generation Anti-Armour Weapon and (iv) Eurofighter Aircrew Synthetic Training Aids;
	(3)  if he will list the (a) date of initial gate, (b) target date for main gate approval and (c) date of main gate approval for the (i) Tornado F3—weapon system upgrade, (ii) Sea Harrier FRS1 to F/A2 conversions, (iii) Next Generation Anti-Armour Weapon and (iv) Eurofighter Aircrew Synthetic Training Aids;
	(4)  if he will list the (a) approved cost of assessment phase at initial gate, (b) actual cost of assessment phase, (c) approved cost of demonstration and manufacture phase at main gate and (d) approved in-service date at main gate for the (i) Tornado F3—weapon system upgrade, (ii) Sea Harrier FRS1 to F/A2 conversions, (iii) Next Generation Anti-Armour Weapon and (iv) Eurofighter Aircrew Synthetic Training Aids.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 15 July 2002
	I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Weapons Systems

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the forecast in-service date was as at 31 March (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002 for the (i) E3D Sentry-Radar Improvement Programme, (ii) Skynet 4 Stage 2 and (iii) Skynet 5;
	(2)  if he will list the forecast cost of demonstration and manufacture phase as at 31 March (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002 for the (i) E3D Sentry-Radar System Improvement Programme, (ii) Skynet 4 Stage 2 and (iii) Skynet 5;
	(3)  if he will list the (a) date of initial gate, (b) target date for main gate approval and (c) date of main gate approval for the (i) E3D Sentry-Radar System Improvement Programme, (ii) Skynet 4 Stage 2 and (iii) Skynet 5;
	(4)  if he will list the (a) approved cost of assessment phase at initial gate, (b) actual cost of assessment phase, (c) approved cost of demonstration and manufacture phase at main gate and (d) approved in-service date at main gate for the (i) E3D Sentry-Radar System Improvement programme, (ii) Skynet 4 Stage 2 and (iii) Skynet 5.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 15 July 2002
	I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Anti-armour Technology

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the jobs created by the new anti-armour technology contract will be established; whether these will be permanent; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The contractor for the Next Generation Light Anti-Armour Weapon programme, Saab Bofors Dynamics, estimates that a total of 520 jobs will be created or sustained in the United Kingdom as a result of this contract. The timing of the creation of these posts and their permanency is a matter for the contractor and as such I cannot comment specifically. However, work on the programme has now started and production for the UK is expected to be complete by 2010. This could be extended if the contractor wins further orders from other customers.

Storm Shadow Cruise Missile

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost is of the Storm Shadow air launched cruise missile; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: As reported in the 2001 Major Project Report, the total estimated procurement cost of the Storm Shadow conventionally armed stand-off missile project is £981 million. This figure includes development, production and initial support costs. Information on the cost of an individual missile would enable deductions to be made on the planned size of our Storm Shadow inventory. I am therefore withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information which relates to Defence, Security and International Relations.

Skill Force Initiative

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the expansion of his Department's sponsored Skill Force initiative to assist under-achieving youngsters in schools.

Lewis Moonie: The Skill Force scheme forms part of the Ministry of Defence's contribution to wider Government social exclusion policies. The initiative aims to prevent young people from feeling long-term disaffection with school and society. It is currently being piloted in 11 areas and in 47 schools in England and Scotland.
	An integral part of the Skill Force pilot scheme has been rigorous and independent evaluation by the British Market Research Bureau. The most recent evaluation report, based on the two original schemes that started in September 2000 in Newcastle and Norfolk, has been completed. The report has shown that Skill Force has helped to maintain attendance rates of over 90 per cent. among children who would otherwise have been expected to display sharply declining attendance, sometimes leading to exclusion through years 10 and 11. Exclusions among participating children in these schools have been reduced by 72 per cent. compared with those predicted by the head teachers at the start of the scheme. A copy of the full report will be placed in the Library of the House.
	The positive results from the independent evaluation have encouraged DfES to work with the MOD in offering Skill Force more widely. In response to the Government's Street Crime Initiative, Skill Force is one of the schemes 11 local education authorities have been invited to consider to help them to deliver part of DfES's Behaviour Improvement Programme. The LEAs concerned have all been in discussions with the MOD and a final decision on locations and schools is expected to be made in the next month. In addition, discussions are currently being held with a view to extending the pilot scheme to Wales. A decision is expected shortly.

Eurofighter

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Eurofighter will be delayed beyond the end of the year.

Lewis Moonie: The Eurofighter In Service Date (ISD) is dependent on industry's ability to deliver an aircraft that meets the nation's requirements. The programme is hugely complex and therefore some risks are inevitable. As I stated in the initial announcement of the delay on 23 May 2002, Official Report, column 478W, nations have reviewed the programme with industry and we have jointly concluded that the ISD should be achieved towards the end of the year.

Eurofighter

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on (a) how many Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft he plans to purchase for the RAF, (b) how many aircraft there will be in each tranche to be ordered and (c) when confirmation for each tranche is planned to be completed; and what the equivalent plans were for Eurofighter procurement as at November 1998.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 15 July 2002
	The Ministry of Defence plans to purchase a total of 232 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft for the Royal Air Force. The contractual commitment for the first 55 aircraft was made in 1998. The order for a second tranche of 89 aircraft is planned for 2003; and we plan to order a third tranche of 88 aircraft in 2007. The planned numbers and timings are unchanged from those in place in November 1998.

Anti-air Missile System

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the procurement of a further five shipsets of the principal anti-air missile system; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: It is intended that the requirement will be contracted by the end of the year, subject to the agreement of acceptable terms.

Mox Lead Test Assemblies

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the minutes of the meeting between his Department's officials, French Government officials and United States Administration officials at the Bristol Abbey Wood establishment on 1 and 2 March 2001, in respect of the project to manufacture mox lead test assemblies.

Lewis Moonie: Mixed oxide (MOX) fuelled lead test assemblies are required for a Russian/US programme for the disposal of excess plutonium. There is an international project to manufacture the assemblies. The purpose of the meeting in March 2001 was to make provisional assessment of the technical and time-scale implications of incorporating surplus UK weapons grade plutonium into the assemblies. It has subsequently been agreed not to proceed in this manner. As the meeting touched on programme and planning matters within the authority of respective Governments, I am withholding the information requested under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Defence, Security and International Relations).

Watchkeeper

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of potential barriers to interoperability between Watchkeeper and (a) other elements of the ISTAR capability, (b) systems used by US forces and (c) systems used by other NATO forces; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether the platforms offered by the firms competing in the Watchkeeper tendering process are mutually compatible; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  when the results of the Watchkeeper tendering process will be published; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: In the current assessment phase of the Watchkeeper project we are considering proposals for more detailed assessment phase work from four potential prime contractors. Two of the companies will be selected to undertake a series of systems integration and assurance activities before we make our main investment decision. Studies conducted by the four contractors have not identified any significant barriers to achieving interoperability with other elements of ISTAR capability, whether national or NATO (including US). The platforms offered by the contractors within their proposed solutions are mutually compatible. We expect to announce the selection of the two companies to go forward into the next stage by the end of August 2002 and to select a preferred bidder to undertake demonstration and manufacture in the 2003–04 timescale.

Defence Projects

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is (a) the original in-service date, (b) the current in-service date, (c) the original estimated cost and (d) the current cost of the (i) advanced short range air-to-air missile, (ii) advanced landing ship logistics, (iii) Astute class submarines, (iv) Bowman, (v) directional infra-red counter measures, (vi) future aircraft carrier, (vii) future carrier borne aircraft, (viii) joint tactical information and distribution system, (ix) landing platform dock replacement, (x) Link 16 joint tactical information display system, (xi) microwave landing system, (xii) mine counter measures vessels, (xiii) NATO submarine rescue system, (xiv) primary casualty receiving ship, (xv) remote influence minesweeping system, (xvi) SeaGnat DLH project, (xvii) Sonar 2087, (xviii) Sting Ray Life Extension lightweight torpedo, (xix) support amphibious and battlefield rotocraft, (xx) type 45 destroyer, (xxi) airborne stand-off radar, (xxii) BattleGroup thermal imaging, (xxiii) combined arms tactical trainer, (xxiv) extended range ordnance/modular charge system, (xxv) future command and liaison vehicle, (xxvi) future engineer tanks, (xxvii) future integrated soldier technology, (xxviii) ground based air defence, (xxix) multi-role armoured vehicle, (xxx) Airbus A400M, (xxxi) beyond visual range air-to-air missile, (xxxii) deployable air command and control system, (xxxiii) Eurofighter, (xxxiv) future offensive air system, (xxxv) Nimrod MRA-4, (xxxvi) Skynet 5, (xxxvii) Storm Shadow conventionally armed stand off missile and (xxxviii) UK air command and control system.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 9 July 2002
	I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Type 45 Destroyer

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the type 45 destroyer could offer a ballistic missile defence capability.

Lewis Moonie: The type 45 destroyer has been designed with substantial weight and space margins to enable its capability to be upgraded through life. At present, no Ministry of Defence studies have been done to assess its specific suitability for a Ballistic Missile Defence role.

Type 45 Destroyer

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) planned capabilities and (b) strategic purposes and systems for type 45 destroyer.

Lewis Moonie: The type 45 will be a versatile destroyer capable of contributing to world-wide maritime and joint operations in multi-threat environments and providing a specialist air warfare capability. With regard to the planned capabilities and systems for the warship, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 April 2001, Official Report, column 232, to the hon. Member for Grantham and Stamford (Mr. Davies). As the design of the type 45 progresses, opportunities to upgrade the ship's capability are being identified and acted upon. During the past year it has been confirmed that all type 45s will be fitted with sonar during build and all will be fully interoperable with Merlin helicopters.

Defence Housing Executive

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what mechanisms exist for ensuring that Defence Housing Executive achieve value for money; what criteria are used to assess their performance; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The Defence Housing Executive has been set challenging targets each year since its establishment as an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Defence in 1999. In 2001–02 these targets were as follows:
	Key Target 1
	To house at least 72 per cent. of families in accommodation that matches their entitlement by posting date or on return to Great Britain from overseas; and at least 93 per cent. within 28 days of their required date.
	Key Target 2
	Less than 5 per cent. of occupants should experience significant defects within 14 days of moving in.
	Key Target 3
	To complete the planned upgrade of 2,400 properties by 31 March 2002 as part of the programme to upgrade core stock by November 2005.
	Key Target 4
	To complete at least 95 per cent. of emergency repairs within 24 hours of notification; at least 90 per cent. of urgent repairs within five working days of notification; at least 95 per cent. of routine repairs within two months of notification.
	Key Target 5
	To reduce the management margin progressively towards 10 per cent. by November 2005, better to balance supply and demand, while delivering other key targets.
	All the above targets have been met except that key target 4 on repairs indicates a slight shortfall in performance on urgent and emergency orders, although urgent repairs were considerably improved over the previous year. Targets for routine repairs were met.

Armed Services Accommodation

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the standard practice for Defence Housing Executive branches on records of repairs done on housing.

Lewis Moonie: Requests for repairs are logged locally on the Defence Housing Executive IT database. The database is nationally networked and each administrative stage of the repairs process is electronically managed to the stage of financial completion. Records are stored electronically and supported by hard copies of works orders and invoices.

Armed Services Accommodation

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many married quarters there are in Warminster, broken down by standard of condition.

Lewis Moonie: There are 601 service family quarters in Warminster, of which 85 are at Standard 1 for condition, 443 at Standard 2 and 73 at Standard 3. Just under 90 per cent. are thus at Standard 2 or above.

Armed Services Accommodation

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to improve the standard of service families' accommodation in Wiltshire.

Lewis Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 9 July 2002, Official Report, column 846W.

Armed Services Accommodation

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much (a) single living accommodation and (b) single family accommodation was empty in each month since January; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The figures for empty single living accommodation are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The approximate figures for vacant service family accommodation (SFA) in mainland United Kingdom at the end of each month from January to June 2002 is as follows:
	
		
			  Figures 
		
		
			 January 10,500 
			 February 10,300 
			 March 8,800 
			 April 8,500 
			 May 8,600 
			 June 8,800 
		
	
	Many disposals took effect in March 2002. Since January 2000, over 10,000 surplus SFA have been released for disposal. Of the properties currently vacant, some 2,400 properties are in the course of disposal; some 2,300 are held for future unit deployments; 1,100 are awaiting modernisation and the remainder are available to incoming occupants or already under offer to them.

Gulf War Veterans

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the findings of work sponsored by the US Administration that Gulf War veterans have a reduced ability to metabolise organophosphates due to reduced levels of the PON1 enzyme (paraoxonase) in their blood;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the findings of work commissioned by the US Administration that N-acetylaspartate levels are reduced in the right and left basal ganglia of Gulf War veterans compared with those in a control group, resulting in reduced dopamine production;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the findings of the research commissioned by the US Administration from Robert W. Haley of the University of Texas relating to variants of Gulf War Syndrome.

Lewis Moonie: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Procurement Executive

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of Procurement Executive operating costs (a) in each year since 1997–98 and (b) at the latest date for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 11 July 2002
	The Procurement Executive (PE) was vested as the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) in 1999. The cash figures in the table show the PE/DPA operating costs for each of the years in question. There have been various structural changes over these years; accounting conventions have also changed with the move from cash to resource budgets. It has not been possible to adjust the figures fully to reflect these changes. Cash figures for 2001–02 have yet to be finalised.
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1997–98 282 
			 1998–99 247 
			 1999–2000 249 
			 2000–01 237

Procurement Executive

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Procurement Executive was ready for agency status; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 11 July 2002
	The Procurement Executive became the Defence Procurement Agency when the agency was vested on 1 April 1999.

Procurement Executive

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of average in-year slippage for the Procurement Executive of the in-service dates of new major projects in each year since 1997–98; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 11 July 2002
	The average amount of in-year slippage to the in-service dates for the Ministry of Defence's major projects in 1997–98 was four months; in 1998–99 seven months; in 1999–2000 three months; and in 2000–01 one month. The MOD is currently gathering data for 2001–02.

Strategic Lift

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action has been taken to enhance strategic lift by (a) securing additional roll on/roll off container ships and (b) purchasing additional large transport aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 11 July 2002
	As I announced on 27 June 2002, Official Report, column 1038W, an enhanced sealift capability of up to six roll on/roll off ships will be available from 2003 under PFI arrangements agreed with AWSR Shipping Ltd. Our strategic airlift capability has been enhanced by the acquisition of Hercules C130J aircraft and leased C-17s. We also plan to introduce around the end of the decade the A400M transport aircraft, the contract for which we are working to make effective at the earliest opportunity.

MoDAS

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many companies submitted expressions of interest to his Department to provide the UK with a MoDAS; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: 16 expressions of interest were received, in reply to the Ministry of Defence's Contracts Bulletin announcement, to provide the United Kingdom with the Modular Defensive Aids System. We expect to determine which systems will be taken forward into the assessment phase of the programme later this year.

Imber

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on the preservation of St. Giles' Church in the village of Imber in each of the past five years.

Adam Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 12 April 2002, Official Report, column 640W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, North (Jeremy Corbyn).

Land Mines

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent by his Department in 2001–02 on the research and development of new technology to detect and remove land mines.

Lewis Moonie: The total expenditure on the research and development of new technology to detect and remove land mines was £9.7 million in the financial year 2001–02.

Procurement

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what difficulties have been experienced with the procurement of a further five shipsets of the principal anti-air missile system.

Lewis Moonie: Negotiations on the PAAMS production contract for the systems for ships two to six are under way. No difficulties have been experienced to date that would put at risk the in-service dates of the type 45 Destroyer.

Red Dragon Project

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future of the Red Dragon Project Team at DARA, RAF St. Athan.

Adam Ingram: The Defence Aviation Repair Agency Red Dragon Project Team is currently being restructured to take account of the need to move the project forward to the approval stage.

Red Dragon Project

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Red Dragon Project to commence following the signing of the memorandum of intent between his Department and the WDA.

Adam Ingram: The Red Dragon Project will shortly be at the approval stage and I expect to be in a position to announce a decision by the autumn.

Red Dragon Project

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when work will commence on a single purpose-built facility for DARA's operations at RAF St. Athan.

Adam Ingram: Subject to approval, the new build is currently planned to commence by the end of the year.

Service Personnel (Birmingham Hospital)

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what messing, accommodation and recreational facilities are available to service personnel based at Birmingham hospitals.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 15 July 2002
	At present there is no service accommodation for permanent staff, long-term or short course students at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM). Depending on their personal circumstances and the nature of their duties, staff and students are housed either in Ministry of Defence quarters within reasonable travelling distance of the site, MOD- hired accommodation, university student accommodation, hotels or suitable bed-and-breakfast accommodation. Mess and recreational facilities at two reserve units in Birmingham (202 Field Hospital and HMS Forward) are being used by those posted to the RCDM. In the longer term, a number of options are being considered for the development of facilities for staff and students at the RCDM.

DARA, Almondbank

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to transfer MOD posts to DARA, Almondbank.

Adam Ingram: As I advised the hon. Member in my letter dated 17 June, the Ministry of Defence has no plans to transfer any further posts to Defence Aviation Repair Agency, Almondbank in the foreseeable future.
	However, a transfer of work from St. Athan will take place which can be absorbed within existing spare capacity.

MOD Holdings

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list MOD holdings; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence's land holdings are listed in section seven of the National Asset Register published by HM Treasury on 19 July 2001, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. A number of disposals and acquisitions have taken place since.

RAF Bases

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the housing project at (a) RAF Halton and (b) RAF Brize Norton has been completed; what the total cost has been; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The project at RAF Halton to upgrade 110 service families' quarters is complete and was undertaken in three phases. The details are as follows:
	
		Halton project
		
			  Commenced Completed Numbers Cost (£ million) 
		
		
			 Phase September 2000 July 2001 50 2.236 
			 Phase 1(a) July 2001 February 2002 50 2.223 
			 Phase 1(b) January 2002 March 2002 10 0.513 
			 
			 Total4.972 
		
	
	The individual project phases started and finished on time, and within budget.
	The project at RAF Brize Norton, to upgrade 129 service families' quarters on base, began in October 2001 and is planned to finish in January 2003. The total cost is estimated at £8.512 million.

Military Sites (West Sussex)

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the military sites in West Sussex.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 15 July 2002
	There are four Ministry of Defence sites within West Sussex. Baker barracks, Thorney Island and Roussillon barracks, Chichester are regular sites and the Royal Electrical Engineers TA centre at Crawley and the Infantry TA centre at Worthing are reserve sites.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Sport

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the local programmes the Government have funded to encourage sports, indicating the level of the funding that each programme has received, broken down by region, over the last five years.

Richard Caborn: The majority of Government funding for sport in England is channelled through Sport England. Details of its funding programmes in each region have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Criminal Records Checks

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had on broadening the Criminal Record Bureau's access to criminal records from other countries with regard to child protection for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.

Richard Caborn: Child protection issues in relation to the Commonwealth Games are being taken forward by Manchester 2002 Ltd., the Games' organisers, in close liaison with Manchester City Council's Social Services Department. They have been working to ensure that the Games' child protection policies and procedures are consistent with relevant legislation and best practice.
	In relation to Games' competitors who are under 16 years of age, Manchester 2002 Ltd. is requiring each team to provide chaperones to ensure that minors can be accompanied at all times. Assistance is being given to those teams that could otherwise not afford to meet this requirement. Manchester 2002 has asked all nominated chaperones to undergo subject access checks if they are from the UK, or via a similar scheme, if available, if from outside the UK. Otherwise teams are being required to provide a letter of support for each chaperone from someone in an official capacity.
	In the case of children performing in the Games' ceremonies, provisions have been made to ensure that all minors are properly chaperoned. All chaperones have been asked to undergo subject access checks.

Lottery Funding

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funds have been allocated, but not distributed, by each of the National Lottery distribution funds in each of the last five years.

Richard Caborn: This information is not readily available. I will however, write to the hon. Member as soon as it has been collated, placing copies of my letter in the Libraries of both Houses.

Lottery Funding

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many projects awarded lottery funding of over £100,000 have subsequently been shut down, closed or made inaccessible to the public;
	(2)  how many projects awarded lottery funding of over £100,000 are (a) open to the public (i) free of charge and (ii) at a cost of below £5 and (b) not open to the public; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. According to the national lottery awards database, which is based upon information supplied to us by the distributing bodies, 15,103 lottery grants of over £100,000 have been awarded up to 11 July 2002. Of these, 6,402 are capital grants, 6,077 are revenue grants and 2,624 are both capital and revenue grants.

Racing Industry

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the racing industry will be given additional time to respond to changes proposed by the Office of Fair Trading.

Melanie Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
	A number of agreements have been notified to OFT by the British Horseracing Board and the Jockey Club, including the Orders and Rules of Racing. The Office is currently investigating these agreements. The Competition Act 1998 provides time for parties to consider and respond to any findings made by the Director General. If the Director General proposes to grant an individual exemption to a notified agreement, he must first consult the public.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Coal Industry

Valerie Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the future of Government policy to the coal industry and the imminent expiry of the ECSC treaty.

Patricia Hewitt: The future of coal policy must be considered both within the context of the new European coal state aid rules which are to come into force following the expiry of the ECSC treaty on 23 July, and in recognition of today's announcement by UK Coal on the future of the Selby complex.
	Mineworkers and their families will obviously feel great disappointment at the news that production at the Selby complex will be phased out over the next 20 months. The chief executive of UK Coal, Gordon McPhie, said today that
	'there was no prospect of the Selby complex becoming viable'.
	Our analysis supports this conclusion: the independent review undertaken on our behalf by IMC Group Consulting Ltd. has endorsed UK Coal's assessment that there is little prospect for a later closure date, concluding that there is now an inevitability of a cessation of production at the complex. Seeking to prolong the life of the pit would be hugely expensive, and become increasingly so over time, for no long term gain. Therefore it seems to be unavoidable that the mine will have to close, and it would make little sense to seek to delay this by paying extra money to the pit. I very much regret this situation.
	I am committed to providing for the welfare of Selby's mineworkers and their families. The Government have worked closely with UK Coal and the local Member of Parliament, my hon. Friend the Member for Selby (Mr. Grogan), and are today announcing a substantial closure package for regeneration and retraining, on top of an extended redundancy settlement. UK Coal's current redundancy agreements end in March 2003. UK Coal wanted to extend the current redundancy terms to cover the whole period of job losses at Selby, but were unable to bear the full costs of doing so at a time when it is making substantial losses and when such a large programme of redundancies is in prospect. We will contribute £10 million to enable Selby miners to receive the pre-privatisation "British Coal" redundancy terms.
	I can also announce a multi-agency Task Force to combat the impact of the pit closures in the Selby coalfield to be led by Yorkshire Forward member, Lord Haskins. As a major local businessman he brings broad experience to the role. By taking action now, we will be able to offer the regeneration and reskilling packages exactly when they are needed.
	The terms of reference for the Task Force will be:
	to ensure a comprehensive package of services are available to individuals directly affected by closure to help them access new training and job opportunities;
	to produce an action plan based on detailed analysis of the socio-economic impact of the closures on the local and regional economy;
	to identify and prioritise required short, medium and long term key actions to address the socio-economic impact on affected communities;
	to allocate responsibility for their delivery to relevant agencies and to identify new economic opportunities locally;
	to galvanise existing and to identify new resources and opportunities for support from Government and European sources and to make recommendations by October 2002;
	to co-ordinate and monitor delivery of agreed actions up to October 2004.
	Membership will include: Yorkshire Forward; English Partnerships; Jobcentre Plus; GOYH; Selby council; Selby Strategy Forum; North Yorkshire county council; the North Yorkshire Learning and Skills Council; UK Coal plc; NUM; NACODS; the Coalfield Regeneration Trust; Ricall Regen Centre; North Yorkshire Business Link; Wakefield First; Barnsley metropolitan district council; and the Association for Voluntary Services.
	The remit of the Task Force will not include UK Coal's responsibilities to its work force, such as arrangements for redundancy and pensions.
	Yorkshire Forward will lead the multi-agency Task Force, with an immediate £1.5 million injection of funding for set-up costs and commissioning of initial research, in response to the announcement of the closure of the Selby coalfield with further funding promised in the future. A comprehensive retraining programme will be required to minimise the impact of the closure on local economies.
	Jobcentre Plus will provide advice and guidance to help individuals return to work as quickly as possible. It has experience of supportive involvement in major redundancies in a number of large organisations including Corus, Rolls Royce, Vauxhall and Unipart. It will co-ordinate its input to the support package for Selby via the Task Force. Specific measures provided will include the Rapid Response Service, through which a range of direct support to redundant workers at Selby will be provided, including:
	provision of advice, guidance and support—if possible by placing staff on site;
	skills needs assessments for all workers, identifying skills held, future training needs and help seeking appropriate work and training;
	access to existing training provision, if necessary through the Work Based Learning for Adults programme, which can address basic skills, soft skills and vocational skills needs; and
	where necessary by arranging additional provision.
	Jobcentre Plus will also co-operate with key partners to help ensure other necessary support measures are identified and a cohesive response package is developed to provide appropriate support when it is needed.
	The North Yorkshire Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and the Government office for Yorkshire and the Humber will contribute fully, both to help the Task Force develop its strategy and to secure the effective implementation of the agreed actions.
	The North Yorkshire LSC, working with the local learning partnership and others, is already heavily involved in the Selby area, helping to re-engage people into learning. It will consider in particular what re-skilling packages might be needed to help regenerate the local economy and will seek to provide funds by applying a range of funding flexibilities from its:
	core funded provision;
	Local Initiative Fund;
	partners use of European budgets.
	In addition to support Selby workers, the Government will make payments on a similar basis to mineworkers at Longannet transferred from British Coal at privatisation and not already in receipt of "British Coal" redundancy payments. This will amount to £5,000 per person.
	The principle of Government support for redundancy payments in the coal and steel sectors lies in the European Coal and Steel Community Treaty, which expires on 23 July. The Government have already made use of the provisions of the ECSC treaty in similar circumstances to make special payments to steel workers following the announcement of a programme of job cuts and closures throughout the UK by Corus in 2001.
	All payments are subject to agreement from the European Commission. No further coal or steel redundancy schemes will be put in place by the Government once the European Coal and Steel Community Treaty has expired.
	We have the most efficient coal industry in Europe, but to date European rules have prevented us from supporting viable investment projects through Regional Selective Assistance. My hon. Friend the Minister for Energy and Construction, has therefore secured agreement at a European level to the flexibility to pay investment aid for pits that have a viable future and we will shortly be consulting on the case for introducing such a scheme in the UK.
	Such a scheme could allow for coal to be treated on a level playing field with other industries. We need to be clear that any new scheme will be cost-effective and make a real contribution to the capacity of the industry to exploit viable reserves of coal in the UK. As part of this analysis we will also commission an independent study of the remaining reserves at existing deep mines to help identify where investment support might be directed. Subject to the conclusions of our work and to the availability of resources we may be in a position to make specific proposals by the end of the year. The details of any scheme will of course need to be agreed with the European Commission consistent with the new EU regime.
	I am also announcing a targeted extension of the current operating aid scheme, to the end of 2002, in order to help secure the long-term future of viable mines under exceptional short-term pressure and will consult on the details shortly. Aid has been paid under the current scheme on the understanding that recipients are viable without aid beyond July 2002, so a general extension of the scheme would not be appropriate. However real concerns have been raised about the risk that short term pressures at a small number of pits may force operators to change existing mining plans in such a way as to close off for good access to significant and otherwise viable reserves of coal. I therefore intend to seek the European Commission's agreement to a modified extension of the current subsidy scheme targeted to address these specific concerns.

Company Law

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will publish a consultation paper on the reform of company law.

Melanie Johnson: Our current company law is creaking with age. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is today publishing plans to modernise and reform it for the 21st century. Company law is central to our economy and our prosperity. A thorough overhaul is needed to make the law clearer and accessible.
	The White Paper reflects the changes that have taken place in the business environment in recent years, particularly the growth of small businesses and advances in communications technology, and include plans to:
	Simplify the law and reduce burdens on small firms;
	Improve transparency to increase confidence in business;
	Improve governance to encourage and support responsible business.

EU Copyright Directive

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations her Department will undertake during the process to implement EU Directive 2001/29/EC on copyright.

Melanie Johnson: We intend to circulate a consultation document setting out our proposals for legislative changes to implement this Directive to a wide range of interested parties already known to us, representing holders of rights, users of protected material and intermediaries. The consultation document will also be posted on the Patent Office website (www.patent.gov.uk) in order that any other interested organisations or individuals may comment if they wish.

Renewable Energy

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals she has to replace the nuclear power plants that will retire between 2010 and 2025; what renewable energy plants will be considered; and what will be done with the nuclear power plants that will be taken out of service between 2010 and 2025.

Brian Wilson: In common with all generation options, the initiative for bringing forward proposals to construct new plant lies with the market and the generating companies. The future role of all electricity generation technologies is currently being considered as part of the work leading to the White Paper. Closed nuclear power plants will be decommissioned.

Nuclear Waste Shipments

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received from the (a) Government of the Republic of Ireland, (b) National Assembly for Wales, (c) Northern Irish Assembly and (d) Scottish Executive on the transportation of nuclear waste to Sellafield by sea.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 9 July 2002
	I have not received any recent representations from these bodies about the transportation of nuclear waste to Sellafield by sea.

Consumer Credit Act

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from organisations in Scotland on reform of procedures relating to time orders under the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

Melanie Johnson: None.

Consumer Credit Act

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the Scottish Executive regarding possible reform procedures relating to time orders under the Consumer Credit Act 1974; and if she will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: The Scottish Executive have recently consulted on the Enforcement of Civil Obligations in Scotland and this consultation mentions time orders under the 1974 Act while recognising that any changes to the 1974 Act would be a reserved matter. DTI officials plan to meet with their colleagues in the Scottish Executive to discuss the outcome of the consultation.

British Accounting

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received from British Business regarding the review of British accounting.

Melanie Johnson: The Co-ordinating Group set up to bring together the responses of the key regulators to post-Enron audit and accounting issues invited comments from 80 representative bodies, firms and individuals. The invitation was also published on the DTI website. There have been 25 responses. A summary of these will be included in the Group's interim report, which is expected to be published this month.

Regulation

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer by Chancellor of the Exchequer of 5 July 2002, Official Report, column 628W, when she will lay the relevant regulations before Parliament.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 15 July 2002
	We will lay the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations before Parliament following a consultation exercise on certain aspects of the regulations, which will begin later this month.

Regulation

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the action which the Regulatory Reform Action Plan (a) has taken and (b) proposes to take for better regulation and reform across Whitehall, local government and health authorities.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 15 July 2002
	In February the Government published the Regulatory Reform Action Plan, setting out over 250 proposals that will benefit businesses, charities and the voluntary sector, the wider public sector and individual citizens. The Plan includes measures that will deliver better regulation and reform across Whitehall, local government and health authorities. This is a programme for action, and where possible, Departments have given published targets for delivery.
	The Government are monitoring progress on these proposals.

Postal Services

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the reform of postal services in England.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 9 July 2002
	The Postal Services Act 2000 established an independent regulator (Postcomm). It is Postcomm's primary statutory duty under that Act to ensure the provision of a universal postal service. The Act lays down that the obligation consists of a service provided at an affordable price determined by a public tariff uniform throughout the United Kingdom, and includes the delivery each working day to the home or premises of every individual in the United Kingdom and a collection each working day from access points.
	In her statement to the House on 13 June 2002, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, set out the proposals agreed by the Board of Consignia to return the company's postal business to profitability, consistent with its statutory obligations.

Postal Services

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contribution she expects competitors in the UK mail industry to make to the universal service obligation; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Government laid down the universal postal service obligation in primary legislation in the Postal Services Act 2000. Under that legislation, it is Postcomm's primary duty to exercise its functions in the manner which it considers is best calculated to ensure the provision of a universal postal service, and subject to this, it is also under a duty to exercise its functions in the manner which it considers is best calculated to further the interests of users of postal services, wherever appropriate by promoting effective competition between postal operators. Any contribution to be made by postal competitors to the universal service is therefore a matter for Postcomm.

Family-Friendly Working Hours

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government's policy is on family-friendly working hours for parents of young families.

Alan Johnson: The Government are committed to helping working parents. From April 2003 parents of children aged under six or of disabled children aged under 18 will have the right to apply to work flexibly. These parents face particular challenges and their employers will have a duty to consider these requests seriously. The Government continue to encourage the wider adoption of flexible working practices through the Work Life Balance Campaign.
	At the same time, the Government will be increasing and extending maternity leave and pay and introducing new rights to paid adoption and paternity leave. These new rights, together with existing rights to take parental leave and time off for dependents will provide parents with more opportunities than ever before to balance work and family life. Employers, parents and their children stand to benefit as a result.

Mineworkers Pension Scheme

Valerie Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress is being made on the scheme announced on 17 January to award one-off lump sum payments to members of the mineworkers pension scheme on the lowest pensions.

Brian Wilson: Payments totalling £38.2 million have now been made to over 28,000 coal pensioners on the lowest incomes. This is the first tranche of the initiative I announced that will benefit around 66,000 former coal miners at a cost of £90 million.
	Those who have been paid are the oldest members of the mineworkers pension scheme. The remaining members who are not yet at pensionable age will receive their payments over the next 12 months.
	These lump sum payments are in addition to the average bonus increase of 30 per cent. that have been awarded to members of the British Coal pension schemes since privatisation, over and above the annual inflation increase.

Timesaver Programme

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the timesaver programme for assisting small businesses.

Nigel Griffiths: The Small Business Service has carried out work on a timesaver service to reduce the time spent by small businesses in dealing with Government and complying with regulations. As a result of this work this project is being taken forward as part of a cross-departmental programme.

Excess Profits

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list those sectors of industry in which excess profits have occurred in the past four years, using the same definition of excess profits as the Competition Commission.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 8 July 2002
	This information is not available. The Competition Commission's inquiries relate to markets not sectors.

Your Guide Scheme

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the Your Guide scheme.

Stephen Timms: The evaluation of the pilot of post offices as Government General Practitioners has been completed to schedule. Work to establish whether a national service could offer value for money to all stakeholders, including Government and post offices, is continuing.

Public Consultation

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the public consultations undertaken by her Department since June 2001, stating in each case the (a) number of respondents and (b) percentage of those specifically consulted who responded.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 10 June 2002
	The consultations undertaken by the Department since June 2001 are as follows:
	Commission proposal for a directive on the working conditions of temporary (agency) workers;
	Company Investigations: Powers for the 21 Century;
	Concerns about gas prices and possible improvements to market efficiency;
	Developing Energy Policy—Key Issues for Consultation for the White Paper;
	Directive 2000/53/EC on End of Life Vehicles;
	Directors' Home Addresses;
	Directors' Remuneration;
	Discussion document on Electronic Signatures Directive Implementing Regulations;
	Discussion Paper on a Possible Producer Responsibility Model for Used Tyres;
	DTI Reviews: Structure and Priorities and Business Support;
	EC Green Paper on Corporate Social Responsibility;
	EC Green Paper on the review of the ECMR;
	Employment status in relation to statutory employment rights;
	Final consultation on Fixed Term Work;
	Flexible working;
	General Product Safety Directive;
	Guidance on applications for resolution of disputes over third party access to Oil and Gas Infrastructure;
	High Performance Workplaces: The Role of Employee Involvement in a Modern Economy;
	ICANN and the Management of the Internet Domain Name system;
	IT Security Industry in connection with the Private Security Industry Act;
	Joint DTI/DCMS consultation on the Draft Communications Bill;
	Maternity and parental leave, and paternity and adoption leave and pay;
	Modernising The Consumer Credit Act 1974;
	Modernising trading standards;
	Proposal on the EU Statute for a European Co-operative Society;
	Proposals to Tighten Consumer Protection against Short Measure of Draught Beer and Cider;
	Proposed amendments to Part-Time Workers Regulations;
	Proposed changes to the legislation that deals with price marking of food and drink served in bars, restaurants and cafes;
	Proposed changes to the Price Marking (Food and Drink on Premises) Order 1979;
	Reform of EC Competition Regime;
	Report of the Task Force on Car Servicing and Repair;
	Review into the case for Government support for cleaner coal technology demonstration plant;
	Routes to Resolution: Improving dispute resolution in Britain;
	Second Consultation on Proposed Modifications to Licence Conditions and Ofgem Guidelines;
	Second consultation on the Directive 1999/44/EC on certain aspects of the sale of consumer goods and associated guarantees;
	The DTI Race Equality Scheme;
	The E-Commerce Directive (2000/31/EC): draft implementing Regulations and interim guidance for business;
	The preliminary decision to add new user groups to the approved users list in the Airwave mm02 Telecommunications Act licence;
	The Pressure Equipment Regulations 1999;
	The process for identifying the GB system operator (GBSO);
	The UNIDROIT/ICAO Draft Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment;
	Towards Equality and Diversity: Implementing the Employment and Race Directives;
	Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 (TUPE) reform;
	Treasury Shares;
	Under-Investment in University Research Infrastructure;
	Young Workers Directive.
	Figures for the number of respondents and the percentage of those specifically consulted who responded are not held centrally. All DTI consultation documents are posted on the Department website and that of the Central Office of Information to ensure we consult as widely as possible.

Employment Liability (Quarries)

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the willingness of the insurance industry to provide employer liability cover for small quarries.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	The provision of insurance is a matter for insurance companies in the light of their commercial understanding of the market. There is no statutory requirement on the insurance industry to provide employers' liability compulsory insurance.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Zimbabwe

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action was taken by the Government to ensure that Zimbabwe would follow the Southern African Development Community's programme for free and fair elections.

Denis MacShane: The SADC parliamentary forum published norms and standards which set a very high standard for the conduct of free and fair elections. They formed the basis of the norms and standards adopted by the EU.
	The EU sent election observers to Zimbabwe. But the Government revoked the visa of the EU team leader, which forced the withdrawal of the observer mission.

Zimbabwe

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations personnel at the Foreign Office have made in the past year to the European Commission concerning the recruitment and appointment of personnel to positions in the Commission dealing with Zimbabwe, with special reference to representations made on behalf of British citizens to Commission appointment boards.

Peter Hain: It is not practical to attempt to check every contact between British officials and the Commission over the last year. But we are not aware of any representations being made over that period concerning the recruitment and appointment of personnel to positions in the Commission dealing with Zimbabwe.

British Goods Promotion

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding he gave to promote (a) high quality and (b) other British goods and services abroad in the last 12 months.

Denis MacShane: British Trade International (BTI), has lead responsibility within Government for trade development and investment overseas and inward investment. The BTI is a joint FCO and DTI operation.
	The trade promotion and development arm of BTI is Trade Partners UK (TPUK). In financial year 2001–02, TPUK's budget for promoting goods and services overseas was some £69.6 million.
	Information distinguishing between funding for the promotion of (a) high quality and (b) other British goods and services is not collected.

Overseas Territories

David Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which UK overseas territories (a) have and (b) have not produced timely, complete and reliable statistical abstracts annually since 1997; with which United Kingdom overseas territories his office has raised queries on the timeliness, completeness and reliability of their (i) annual statistical abstracts and (ii) other statistical reports since 1997; and from which United Kingdom overseas territories satisfactory responses are still awaited.

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library the National Income Accounts for each overseas territory received by his Department; and if he will list the date of their last submission;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library copies of the latest official statistics for each of the overseas territories that his Department has received;
	(3)  with whom the duty for publishing and submitting to his Department the National Income Accounts on Official Statistics for each overseas territory lies;
	(4)  on which occasions he has received official statistics over the past five years from each overseas territory; and if he will indicate, in each case, if they are of the standard that he requires.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 10 July 2002
	Each overseas territory has a slightly different system for the collection and publication of statistics but we look to them all to produce suitable and regular information.
	Of the nine overseas territories where there is significant economic activity, seven have regularly produced and published statistics over a five year period up to and including either 2000 or 2001. Montserrat, due to particular circumstances, has been unable to produce comprehensive statistics for several years, but expects to do so in the near future. Gibraltar has recently published a compendium of statistics after a gap of several years. I will be making arrangements for the most recent statistical returns from each of these overseas territories to be placed in the Libraries of the House.
	HMG are in consultation with certain overseas territories about refining and improving their statistical returns, and where appropriate have offered assistance with this, for example by the secondment of experts.

Botswana

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the policy of the Botswanian Government to relocate the bushmen is in accordance with the terms of the programme to support and improve protected reserves agreed between the European Union and the Botswanian Government.

Denis MacShane: The relocation of the bushmen from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve is not linked in any way to the terms of the EU programme. While the programme allows for support to inhabitants of the community-use zones adjacent to game reserves, it is not dependent on relocation of people from those reserves.

Botswana

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what part Her Majesty's Government played in negotiating the programme between the European Union and the Botswanian Government to support and improve protected reserves;
	(2)  what part her Department had in the negotiation of the programme for supporting and improving protected reserves agreed between the European Union and the Botswanian Government.

Denis MacShane: We played no direct role in negotiating the programme to support and improve protected reserves. The European Commission does this on behalf of the EU under agreed procedures governing disbursement of the European Development Fund.

Afghanistan

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the repatriation of refugees to Afghanistan from neighbouring countries; and if he will make a statement on the infrastructural and security situation within Afghanistan.

Mike O'Brien: So far approximately 1.2 million refugees have returned to Afghanistan from neighbouring countries. Since September 2001, the UK has contributed over £5 million to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) for their programme of assistance to Afghan refugees, and over £3.5 million to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) for assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees to Afghanistan. We are also supporting a number of other humanitarian programmes which will help to create an environment for the sustainable return of both refugees and IDPs, including the United Nations-led programme of mine clearance and mine awareness in Afghanistan.
	Years of fighting and instability have taken their toll on Afghan infrastructure, which has had a direct impact on humanitarian, reconstruction and rehabilitation work in Afghanistan. A World bank trust fund has been established to co-ordinate international development assistance for Afghanistan, including for infrastructure.
	The overall security situation in Kabul has improved greatly since ISAF began its operations there last December. However, the security situation elsewhere in Afghanistan is more uncertain, and there are many challenges still to face. The key to improving security throughout Afghanistan is to offer the Afghans assistance with Security Sector Reform. We are leading on the counter narcotics effort, with the US leading on army training, the Germans on police training, the Italians on judicial reform, and the Japanese on demobilisation.

United States Farm Act

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the impact of the new United States Farm Act on the (a) enlargement of the EU and (b) the development of agricultural exports from the Third World.

Peter Hain: The information is as follows:
	(a) The Government are a champion of EU enlargement and are committed to concluding negotiations by the end of this year with those candidates who are ready. The US Farm Act will have no direct consequences for the substance and timing of the EU enlargement process.
	(b) Further liberalisation of agricultural trade is important for fostering trade led growth, and thus poverty reduction, in developing countries. These are key UK objectives in implementing the WTO's Doha Development Agenda. Regrettably, the US Farm Act seems likely to further distort world markets.

Kashmir

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment is of the UK's role in relation to the dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir.

Mike O'Brien: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear in the House on 25 June 2002, Official Report, column 728, this is at root a bilateral matter, which can be resolved only by direct dialogue between the parties. We welcome the lowering of tensions but remain deeply concerned about the military mobilisation on both sides of the border. We will remain fully engaged in seeking further de-escalation and encouraging India and Pakistan to work towards a lasting settlement of all their differences, including Kashmir.
	As part of this engagement, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence visited the region on 2–3 July, and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will be visiting again later this week. The purpose of both visits is to encourage dialogue between India and Pakistan.

Departmental Travel

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on using (a) UK and (b) non-UK carriers.

Mike O'Brien: Our policy is to use airlines that provide the best value for money in terms of cost, safety and service on the routes flown.

Departmental Travel

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what internal budgetary rules govern the travel of his Department's staff, embassy staff and associated staff.

Mike O'Brien: Rules governing expenditure on staff travel at home and overseas are set out in the FCO Code of Management. These cover entitlements, authorisation of expenditure, value for money and budgeting.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the British high commissioner to Cyprus has taken to bring together Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots living on Cyprus to discuss issues of general interest; when such meetings have taken place during the last 12 months; and where the meetings took place.

Peter Hain: The Government are committed to developing practical co-operation between the two communities on and off the island. I myself hosted a reception and gave a speech to an intercommunal gathering on 10 April which was attended by senior politicians from both communities. The British high commission has made a significant contribution to intercommunal dialogue, bringing Turkish and Greek Cypriots together at a wide range of events.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom Government's relations with the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.

Peter Hain: The Government enjoy excellent relations with the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what the United Kingdom Government's policy is on the United Nations resolutions that have been passed as the basis of a settlement for Cyprus;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom Government's policy on Cyprus;
	(3)  what the United Kingdom Government's policy is on the development of two sovereign states for the island of Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: It is for the two sides in Cyprus to agree the terms of a settlement. However, the Government are committed to UN Security Council Resolution 1250 of June 1999 which called upon the two leaders to give their full support to a comprehensive negotiation under the auspices of the Secretary-General for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement in Cyprus, which takes full consideration of relevant Security Council resolutions and treaties. We are working hard to help all involved in the current direct talks to move negotiations forward and urging both sides to co-operate fully in such an effort, in particular to work with the Secretary-General's Special Adviser, Alvaro de Soto.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if the recent statement made by Lord Hannay, during a recent Turkish television interview on Cyprus, was (a) a statement of United Kingdom Government policy on Cyprus and (b) made with approval of his Department; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if Lord Hannay discussed his recent Turkish television interview on Cyprus with the British High Commissioner for the Republic of Cyprus before the interview took place; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: Lord Hannay is the Government's Special Representative on Cyprus, and speaks with our full support.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met President Clerides of the Republic of Cyprus; what issues were discussed; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and President Clerides both attended the European Council in Seville in June. I met him in April.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what salary has been paid to Lord Hannay as the United Kingdom adviser on Cyprus in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many days Lord Hannay has been employed by the United Kingdom Government to work as the UK adviser on Cyprus in each of the last five years.

Peter Hain: Between June 1997 and June 1998 Lord Hannay was employed by the United Kingdom Government to work as the UK adviser on Cyprus for 98 days and was paid a salary of £39,200.
	Between June 1998 and June 1999 Lord Hannay was employed for 79 days and was paid a salary of £31,600.
	Between June 1999 and June 2000 Lord Hannay was employed for 99.5 days and was paid a salary of £39,800.
	Between June 2000 and June 2001 Lord Hannay was employed for 100.5 days and was paid a salary of £45,315.
	Between June 2001 and June 2002 Lord Hannay was employed for 88.5 days and was paid a salary of £39,825. His expertise, authority and the respect in which he is held by both sides shows that this is good value for money.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the policy is of the United Kingdom Government on the application of the Republic of Cyprus for the membership of the European Union.

Peter Hain: The Government welcome and indeed champions Cyprus' application to join the European Union. The Government's policy remains based on the position outlined by the Helsinki European Council, which stated that
	"a political settlement will facilitate the accession of Cyprus to the European Union".
	If no settlement has been reached by the completion of accession negotiations, the Council's decision on accession will be made without the above being a precondition. In this the Council will take account of all relevant factors.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his estimate is of the number of settlers from mainland Turkey who are permanently settled in northern Cyprus.

Peter Hain: The number of Turkish citizens who have come from mainland Turkey to northern Cyprus is a matter of dispute between the various parties concerned. No authoritative figures are available.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many United Nations peacekeeping forces are based in Cyprus.

Peter Hain: As of June 2002, UN forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP) numbered 1,206 military personnel, 35 civilian police, 44 international civilians and 103 local civilians.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the British High Commissioner to the Republic of Cyprus last visited the occupied area of northern Cyprus; who he met; and what issues were discussed.

Peter Hain: The British High Commissioner and his staff in Nicosia maintain regular contacts on both sides of the green line, including on consular support for British nationals living in the north of Cyprus and support for a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement in Cyprus.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had, and with whom, on the future of the town of Famagusta; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no recent detailed discussions on the town of Famagusta. The future of the town of Famagusta is under discussion in the negotiations currently taking place under UN auspices for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement in Cyprus, to which the Government give their full support.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the resolution of the European Parliament of 13 June that only a single sovereign Cyprus state should be permitted to accede to the European Union.

Peter Hain: The Government fully support the Conclusions of the Seville European Council, which state that
	"as a Member State, Cyprus will need to speak with a single voice and ensure proper application of European Union law".

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many chapters the Republic of Cyprus has negotiated in its application for membership of the European Union.

Peter Hain: The Republic of Cyprus has opened 30 negotiating chapters and provisionally closed 28 in its accession negotiations with the European Union.

Western Sahara

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on sovereignty over Western Sahara.

Mike O'Brien: The UK—in common with most other countries—regards the sovereignty of Western Sahara as undetermined pending UN efforts to find a solution to this dispute.
	We supported UN Security Council Resolution 1359. This reiterated full support for the ongoing efforts of MINURSO to implement the Settlement Plan and agreements by the parties to hold a free, fair and impartial referendum for the self-determination of the people of the Western Sahara.
	It also endorsed the efforts of the UN Secretary-General to invite all the parties to meet directly, or through proximity talks under the auspices of his Personal Envoy, James Baker, to discuss any proposal in order to arrive at a mutually acceptable agreement.

EU Enlargement

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards EU enlargement.

Peter Hain: Excellent progress was made under the Spanish presidency, which agreed EU positions on the four final chapters for negotiation, in line with the "road map" agreed at Nice. The Seville European Council reiterated the EU's commitment to completing negotiations with the best-prepared candidates by the end of the year, so they can join the EU in time to take part in the 2004 European Parliament elections. The UK is firmly committed to this timetable, first proposed by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in 2000. 10 candidate countries are on track to complete negotiations this year, having closed between 23 and 28 of the 30 chapters.

Middle East

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Governments of Iraq, Syria, Iran, Egypt and Saudi Arabia concerning anti-Semitism in the media in those countries; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: We deplore anti-Semitism and make this clear to those concerned.

Saudi Arabia

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) the Saudi Ambassador and (b) the Saudi Government concerning recent statements made by the Ambassador relating to suicide bombing; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The FCO has made clear to the Saudi Ambassador our well-known position on suicide bombings. We condemn them as we condemn all forms of terrorism and indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians. We have not made any other representations to the Saudi Government.

PRIME MINISTER

Sure Start

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Prime Minister what changes to ministerial responsibilities he will be making in relation to Sure Start, early years and child care.

Tony Blair: The Chancellor announced yesterday a significant increase in the combined budget for child care, early years and Sure Start, rising to £1.5 billion in 2005–06. This includes a more than doubling of investment in child care by 2005–06, following an inter-departmental review of child care co-ordinated by the Performance and Innovation Unit.
	The extra investment will support the expansion of child care places across the country, and the integration of good quality child care with early years education, family support and health services through a network of children's centres in the most disadvantaged areas.
	In keeping with this new focus on integration, responsibility for early years education, child care and Sure Start will be brought within one inter-departmental unit based within the Department for Education and Skills. The Chancellor announced yesterday the PSA target for the new unit which will be shared by the Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Work and Pensions.
	This new inter-departmental unit will report to a new Minister for Sure Start, early years and child care, who will be jointly appointed to the Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Work and Pensions, to ensure that our early years and child care vision delivers on both our educational and employment objectives. I have asked Baroness Ashton, who led the inter- departmental review of child care, to take on this role.
	Baroness Ashton will report to a new cross- departmental ministerial group on Sure Start, early years and child care. This Group will be a sub-Committee of MISC9, the Cabinet sub-Committee on Children's Services. The focus on health has been vital to the Sure Start programmes already up and running. To ensure that this is maintained, the sub-committee will be chaired by the Minister for Public Health. The sub-committee's other members will include the Paymaster General and the Minister for Disabled People.
	The Secretary of State for Education and Skills will continue to speak on these issues in Cabinet. At junior ministerial level, the Minister for Disabled People will answer questions in the House of Commons.
	I believe these new arrangements will ensure that an integrated approach is taken to the development and delivery of our early years and child care vision.

PRIVY COUNCIL

E-democracy

Rob Marris: To ask the President of the Council if he will make a statement on E-democracy.

Robin Cook: The Government will today publish "In the service of democracy, a consultation paper on a policy for electronic democracy". Copies of the paper are available in the Vote Office, Libraries of the House and on the new e-democracy website www.edemocracy.gov.uk. A copy of the paper will be sent to all MPs and Peers.
	Our strategy for e-democracy offers new ways of participating and seeks to complement rather than replace existing structures. The paper sets out our aim of using new technologies to promote, strengthen and enhance our democratic structures.
	Government action is proposed in two main areas, e-participation and e-voting. We outline new ways in which the mechanisms of democracy can be enhanced, by modernising voting methods, improving access to ballots and broadening the scope of Government consultations.
	Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) provide a means to increase public participation, and we hope that with an active Government policy the potential benefits can be maximised.
	The period of public consultation will end on Wednesday 31 October 2002.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

School Exclusions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many exclusions from (a) primary and (b) secondary schools there have been in each English local education authority in each year since 1980–81; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 8 July 2002
	Tables showing the available information have been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Child Care (Regulations)

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what plans there are to advertise the existence of the national register of child minders and day care providers;
	(2)  what action has been taken to advertise the existence of the national register of child minders and day care providers;
	(3)  when the national register of child minders and day care providers will be available online;
	(4)  how many child care professionals are listed on the national register of child minders and day care providers;
	(5)  how many child care professionals are listed on the national register of child minders and day care providers within the area of the Devon county council.

Margaret Hodge: The establishment of a national register of child minders and day care providers is a matter for the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted). The HM Chief Inspector for Schools, David Bell, will write to the hon. Gentleman and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library. Ofsted routinely transfers information from its database of child care providers to local Childcare information Services (CISs). The Government have made funds available to local CISs across England in order to make child care information available to parents. The Department has set up the ChildcareLink national information line (0800 0 96 02 96) to help parents find their local CIS. There is also a ChildcareLink website www.childcarelink gov.uk that includes a search facility to find local child care provision.

Child Care (Regulations)

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  when assessment of child care providers against OFSTED's satisfaction criteria will (a) commence and (b) be completed;
	(2)  what OFSTED'S draft satisfaction criteria for child care providers are;
	(3)  when OFSTED's satisfaction criteria for child care providers will be finalised.

Margaret Hodge: This is a matter for the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED). The HM Chief Inspector for Schools, David Bell, will write to the hon. Gentleman and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Child Care (Regulations)

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what further training is necessary for staff as a result of the transfer of responsibilities for child care regulation to OFSTED; and what plans there are for its provision.

Margaret Hodge: Training for staff employed by the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) is a matter for OFSTED. The HM Chief Inspector for Schools, David Bell, will write to the hon. Gentleman and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Higher Education

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans the Government have to consult students on higher education courses.

Margaret Hodge: Students' views are at the heart of the new arrangements for quality assurance in higher education, which will be introduced from September 2002. Students and graduates will be asked to rate their courses through a range of surveys and their views will be published. A national survey of graduates will be piloted in October 2002 and will be followed by full implementation in Autumn 2003.

Higher Education

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of young people in each English county entered higher education in the latest year for which information is available; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 8 July 2002
	The latest available information, showing the proportion of 18 year olds from each local education authority in England entering full-time undergraduate courses in the UK via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), is shown in the table.
	Our programmes to raise standards in schools and colleges will have a major impact on increasing participation in HE. We have introduced the Excellence Challenge in Excellence in Cities areas and Education Action Zones, working with young people from the age of 13, which, together with the AimHigher campaign, will encourage more young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to aspire to HE. We are also encouraging more Higher Education Institutions to introduce a range of measures to enable more people to participate in higher education including part-time learning and access programmes for mature students.
	
		Proportion of English domiciled students aged 18 accepted through Ucas to full-time undergraduate courses in the UK autumn 2001 entry
		
			 Local Education Authority (LEA) 17 year old population in 2000 18 year olds accepted to HE in 2001 Proportion entering Higher Education percentage 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 2,029 231 11.4 
			 Barnet 3,872 1,234 31.9 
			 Barnsley 2,723 437 16.0 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 1,913 479 25.0 
			 Bedfordshire 4,729 1,119 23.7 
			 Bexley 2,671 488 18.3 
			 Birmingham 13,765 2,447 17.8 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 2,059 368 17.9 
			 Blackpool 1,734 254 14.6 
			 Bolton 3,449 826 24.0 
			 Bournemouth 1,564 363 23.2 
			 Bracknell Forest 1,439 305 21.2 
			 Bradford 6,797 1,209 17.8 
			 Brent 3,177 976 30.7 
			 Brighton and Hove 2,602 370 14.2 
			 Bromley 3,163 989 31.3 
			 Buckinghamshire 6,017 1,826 30.3 
			 Bury 2,332 597 25.6 
			 Calderdale 2,424 513 21.2 
			 Cambridgeshire 6,711 1,467 21.9 
			 Camden 1,929 359 18.6 
			 Cheshire 8,179 2,491 30.5 
			 City of Bristol 4,541 797 17.5 
			 City of Derby 2,859 558 19.5 
			 City of Kingston upon Hull 3,197 356 11.1 
			 City of London 31 54 175.9 
			 City of Westminster 2,032 330 16.2 
			 Cornwall 6,012 1,303 21.7 
			 Coventry 3,942 762 19.3 
			 Croydon 4,125 1,038 25.2 
			 Cumbria 5,931 1,305 22.0 
			 Darlington 1,255 259 20.6 
			 Derbyshire 8,620 1,891 21.9 
			 Devon 8,323 1,710 20.5 
			 Doncaster 3,886 711 18.3 
			 Dorset 4,796 1,017 21.2 
			 Dudley 3,731 753 20.2 
			 Durham 6,540 1,191 18.2 
			 Ealing 3,609 998 27.7 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 3817 883 23.1 
			 East Sussex 5,769 1,188 20.6 
			 Enfield 3,088 877 28.4 
			 Essex 15,402 3,483 22.6 
			 Gateshead 2,541 432 17.0 
			 Gloucestershire 7,067 1,656 23.4 
			 Greenwich 2,797 406 14.5 
			 Hackney 2,286 319 14.0 
			 Halton 1,793 293 16.3 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,444 295 20.4 
			 Hampshire 15,830 3,617 22.8 
			 Haringey 2,399 432 18.0 
			 Harrow 2,770 1,059 38.2 
			 Hartlepool 1,226 224 18.3 
			 Havering 2,758 525 19.0 
			 Herefordshire 2,015 503 25.0 
			 Hertfordshire 12,421 3,401 27.4 
			 Hillingdon 2,921 686 23.5 
			 Hounslow 2,521 646 25.6 
			 Isle of Wight 1,494 301 20.2 
			 Isles of Scilly 18 10 55.9 
			 Islington 1,849 302 16.3 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1,665 320 19.2 
			 Kent 16,431 3,622 22.0 
			 Kingston upon Thames 1,607 507 31.5 
			 Kirklees 4,973 1,056 21.2 
			 Knowsley 2,371 319 13.5 
			 Lambeth 2,848 448 15.7 
			 Lancashire 14,806 3,418 23.1 
			 Leeds 8,655 1,743 20.1 
			 Leicester City 3,758 826 22.0 
			
			 Leicestershire 7,466 1,844 24.7 
			 Lewisham 2,827 442 15.6 
			 Lincolnshire 7,487 1,705 22.8 
			 Liverpool 5,893 1,032 17.5 
			 Luton 2,447 422 17.2 
			 Manchester 5,955 715 12.0 
			 Medway Towns 3,079 602 19.6 
			 Merton 1,991 456 22.9 
			 Middlesbrough 2,098 406 19.4 
			 Milton Keynes 2,828 499 17.6 
			 Newbury 2,138 448 21.0 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 3,239 754 23.3 
			 Newham 3,421 688 20.1 
			 Norfolk 9,044 1,624 18.0 
			 North East Lincolnshire 2,124 339 16.0 
			 North Lincolnshire 1,991 363 18.2 
			 North Somerset 2,303 531 23.1 
			 North Tyneside 2,374 417 17.6 
			 North Yorkshire 7,397 1,882 25.4 
			 Northamptonshire 8,030 1,726 21.5 
			 Northumberland 4,094 916 22.4 
			 Nottingham City 3,423 424 12.4 
			 Nottinghamshire 9,230 1,913 20.7 
			 Oldham 3,004 570 19.0 
			 Oxfordshire 7,889 1,737 22.0 
			 Peterborough 2,174 396 18.2 
			 Plymouth 3,232 537 16.6 
			 Poole 1,635 289 17.7 
			 Portsmouth 2,174 306 14.1 
			 Reading 1,637 348 21.3 
			 Redbridge 2,962 944 31.9 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 1,824 353 19.4 
			 Richmond upon Thames 1,878 608 32.4 
			 Rochdale 2,942 537 18.3 
			 Rotherham 3,204 568 17.7 
			 Rutland 746 118 15.8 
			 Salford 2,804 359 12.8 
			 Sandwell 3,772 594 15.7 
			 Sefton 3,708 1,028 27.7 
			 Sheffield 5,775 981 17.0 
			 Shropshire 3,706 892 24.1 
			 Slough 1,388 341 24.6 
			 Solihull 2,545 757 29.7 
			 Somerset 6,313 1,349 21.4 
			 South Gloucestershire 2,758 497 18.0 
			 South Tyneside 1,959 336 17.2 
			 Southampton 2,397 395 16.5 
			 Southend 1,900 350 18.4 
			 Southwark 2,448 362 14.8 
			 St Helens 2,304 503 21.8 
			 Staffordshire 10,282 2,459 23.9 
			 Stockport 3,633 919 25.3 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 2,495 534 21.4 
			 Stoke on Trent 3,119 502 16.1 
			 Suffolk 8,006 1,679 21.0 
			 Sunderland 3,905 617 15.8 
			 Surrey 12,979 3,618 27.9 
			 Sutton 2,011 558 27.7 
			 Swindon 2,199 315 14.3 
			 Tameside 2,823 407 14.4 
			 Telford and the Wrekin 2,148 399 18.6 
			 Thurrock 1,574 168 10.7 
			 Torbay 1,489 278 18.7 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,522 367 14.6 
			 Trafford 2,857 710 24.9 
			 Wakefield 3,974 749 18.8 
			 Walsall 3,454 624 18.1 
			 Waltham Forest 2,485 522 21.0 
			 Wandsworth 2,100 501 23.9 
			 Warrington 2,404 573 23.8 
			 Warwickshire 6,311 1,553 24.6 
			 West Sussex 8,658 1,910 22.1 
			 Wigan 3,836 661 17.2 
			 Wiltshire 5,426 1,283 23.6 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 1,876 464 24.7 
			
			 Wirral 4,284 1,099 25.7 
			 Wokingham 1,986 640 32.2 
			 Wolverhampton 3,200 682 21.3 
			 Worcestershire 6,735 1,549 23.0 
			 York 2,161 533 24.7 
			  
			 Known total 610,936 131,254 21.5 
			 Unknown — 68 — 
			 Total 610,936 131,322 21.5 
		
	
	Sources:
	Office of National Statistics (ONS), Government Actuary Department (GAD),
	Universities and Colleges Admissions Service(UCAS)

Higher Education

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) courses and (b) chairs in British universities are funded by the EU; and what process ensures the academic rigour and impartiality of these arrangements.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 9 July 2002
	The European Commission co-funds, with Universities, courses and academic posts in relevant subjects via its Jean Monnet project. The project did not operate last academic year, but according to the Commission website, this programme contributed funding towards 94 academic posts and 209 course modules in UK universities in the year 2000. There will be another round of the project this year. The posts supported are referred to by the Commission as 'Chairs' but are not always professorships. Academic institutions make their own appointments, which are then subject to approval by the Commission. Further information about the Jean Monnet project and the activities it supports can be found on the European Commission website www.europa.eu.in/ comm/education
	In addition to this source, UK universities and research institutions derive significant amounts of funding from the European Union's Framework Programmes for Scientific research. The Government do not however hold any figures on how many courses are being funded as a result of successful UK applications made under the Improving Human Potential Programme in this Programme.
	The quality and standards of all the programmes and awards delivered by UK higher education institutions are encompassed within the quality assurance arrangements of the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). University Chairs are institutional appointments and as such, standards are a matter for institutions in respect of their own recruitment policies.

Staff Numbers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many staff were employed by her Department on (a) 2 May 1997 and (b) 31 May 2002.

Stephen Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for State at the Cabinet Office on 13 June 2002, Official Report, column 1402W.

Special Educational Needs

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 4 July 2002, Official Report, column 498W, on MLD and SLD schools, on what basis the Government allocates funding to meet SEN requirements.

Stephen Twigg: Most provision for the education of children with special needs (SEN) is included within general revenue grant support for local authorities. The Education Standard Spending Assessment formula through which this general support is distributed allows for different levels of additional educational need, between authorities, but does not specifically allocate funding for SEN needs. In practice, about 11 per cent. of local authority schools expenditure is attributable to SEN and to other "special" kinds of provision such as pupil referral units. In addition to general grant support, the Government pay specific grant through the Standards Fund which will support £91 million of expenditure on SEN in 2002–03. This specific support is distributed to authorities on the following basis: 70 per cent. on full time equivalent pupil numbers in all LEA maintained schools and 30 per cent. by entitlement to free school meals.

Early-years Education

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of three- year-olds in deprived areas have access to early-years education.

Margaret Hodge: The Department does not collect data in the format requested.
	However, we have increased the national percentage of three-year-olds able to access a free, part time, early education place from 34 per cent. in January 1997 to more than 66 per cent. in January 2002. By September 2004, all three-year-olds will be able to access a free place.
	Already, 65 of the most deprived local education authorities offer a free nursery education place to all three-year-olds whose parents want one. The remaining authorities are responsible for devising eligibility criteria for the distribution of free places in their area according to social need.

Children and Young People's Unit

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she will take in response to the publication of the 'Yvote?/Ynot?' report by the Children and Young People's Unit.

John Denham: The Children and Young People's Unit will be working with the Electoral Commission and a wide range of young people's organisations to extend the debate about the report's findings. We plan to make the materials from the project available to teachers, youth workers and organisations working directly with young people. We shall be working with the All Party Group on Youth Affairs to explore how honourable Members can be helped to improve their communication with young people. The report also identified the importance of information about the political process and this will be a key feature of citizenship education which will be part of the national curriculum for secondary schools from August 2002.
	My objective is to seek to ensure that all young people who have the opportunity to vote for the first time at the next general election should have considered the issues involved.

Grammar Schools

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many places there were in each state grammar school in each English local education authority; what percentage this represented of the total number of secondary school places in these local authorities; and how many and what percentage of children was entered for the admission test for each of these schools in each of the last three years.

Ivan Lewis: The Department does not regularly collect information on the number of school places in any type of school. Nor does it collect information on the number of children entered for admission tests.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

S/Waste Paper

Chris Mullin: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, how much waste paper was produced by the House in each of the last two years; how it was disposed of; and if he will make a statement.

Archy Kirkwood: pursuant to his reply, 17 June 2001, c. 156W
	In July 2001 I said that some 3,000 tonnes of waste were incinerated per year. In fact the total quantity of domestic waste (that is, not including builders' waste) removed from the parliamentary estate and burned over the last three years has been under 1,500 tonnes per year. I apologise to the hon. Gentleman for this error; the wrong information was provided by a contractor, and that mistake has only just come to light in the course of preparing an answer to a recent question.

HEALTH

NHS Dentistry

Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on dental health.

David Lammy: Since the inception of the NHS oral health has improved greatly and NHS dentistry has worked well over this period. There have been dramatic falls in the numbers of adults and children with decayed, missing or filled teeth. However variations remain across the country and we are taking action to tackle these. We are also working with representatives of the profession to modernise NHS dentistry and to see how new demands on the service can be met for the benefit of patients and dentists.

NHS Dentistry

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of adults are registered with an NHS dentist.

David Lammy: Arrangements are now in place to ensure that patients can gain access to national health service services simply by calling NHS Direct. This means that even if a patient is not registered with a dentist it will still be possible for that patient to access all forms of dentistry that are provided by the NHS.
	Forty-three per cent. of adults were registered with a general dental service dentist in England at 31 May 2002. Registrations lapse if patients do not return to the dentist within 15 months. Patients who are not registered can be seen under occasional treatment arrangements that were introduced last year.

NHS Dentistry

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding has been made available to the Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency for NHS dental provision.

Jacqui Smith: pursuant to her reply, 24 June 2002, c. 727–28W
	I regret that my previous reply was incorrect. It should read:
	Information on funding of national health service dental provision is not available on a constituency basis.
	The gross fees paid to general dental practitioners (GDP) within the old Morecambe Bay health authority area, for providing NHS dental treatment, were £9.28 million in 2001–02. Additional sums are paid to GDPs, for example to reimburse business rates. Funding for hospital and community dental services is drawn from the health authority's main allocation. This information is not identified separately.
	In 2001–02 the following additional funds were made available to Morecambe Bay health authority to improve NHS dental services:
	£308,000 revenue and £312,000 capital to establish a personal dental services dental access centre pilot scheme (DAC). The DAC has a surgery in Barrow offering unregistered patients access to dental services. A second surgery, to be located in Morecambe, has been funded and should be operational from April 2003. In the interim Morecambe Bay PCT is looking into proposals to provide an alternative DAC site in Lancaster on a part-time basis.
	The revenue funding available for the current year for this DAC is up to £820,000 and a further capital payment will be made of around £160,000. The service aim is to treat up to 17,000 patients a year when both centres are fully operational.
	An allocation of £270,800 was made in 2001–02 to GDPs from the modernisation fund for grants to local dental practices to provide practice improvements and additional facilities.
	£7,500 was allocated to the health authority from the dental action plan fund to enable additional patient registrations to be secured.

Elderly Care

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on implementing the elderly care strategy in north Staffordshire.

Jacqui Smith: My hon. Friend has worked hard over many years to ensure better care for the elderly in the north Staffs area. I am aware that following concerns expressed by herself and the Community Health Council about plans for the future of elderly care services in north Staffs, Professor Brian Edwards was commissioned to make an independent report on the best way forward.
	I understand that the Shropshire and Staffordshire health authority are on target with the implementation of their elderly care strategy and are addressing all recommendations made in Professor Edwards' independent report including ensuring an extra 48 places in community hospitals over and above Professor Edwards' recommendation of 163 long-term beds.

Diabetes

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made with the diabetes national service framework; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: We published the standards for the Diabetes National Service Framework last December. The delivery strategy for the Framework is currently being developed with the help of an Implementation Group and will be published later this year.

Diabetes

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to introduce a high-risk screening programme for type-2 diabetes.

David Lammy: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minister of State (Jacqui Smith) on 11 January 2001, Official Report, column 260W. Any decision about a start date for a possible programme will depend on the advice the Department receives.

Community Health Services

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to encourage the role of social and mutual enterprise in community health services.

Hazel Blears: We are actively exploring the contribution that social enterprise can make to Primary Care Trusts' delivery of the Department's aim of a modernised and responsive health service. I hosted a workshop on this which was attended by key stakeholders, including experts from the not for profit sector, universities, trade unions and Government Departments and we will continue to discuss practical steps we can take to encourage full developments.

Mental Health

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the contributions his Department has received in response to the consultations prior to the publication of the new draft Mental Health Bill.

Jacqui Smith: The consultation responses received in respect of the draft Mental Health Bill will be available to the public after the consultation period ends unless respondents ask for confidentiality.

Mental Health

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the (a) causes of and (b) treatment for dementia.

Jacqui Smith: The most common causes of dementia are degeneration of brain nerve cells (Alzheimer's disease) and insufficient blood flow to the brain (vascular dementia).
	The National Service Framework for Older People published last year outlines the appropriate components for the treatment and care of people with dementia. It sets standards for the delivery of improved and comprehensive health and social care services to support people with dementia and their carers.

Mental Health

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding allocated to primary care trusts for mental health services has been ring-fenced.

Jacqui Smith: In 2002–03 £75 million was earmarked for mental health services. The funding is allocated to health authorities (HAs), which then allocate funding to primary care trusts (PCTs), on the basis of the relative needs of their populations. HAs were instructed to allocate earmarked funding to PCTs on the same basis as allocations were made to HA. PCTs share of the earmarked funding for mental health is shown in the table. Special consideration will need to be given to improving access to mental health services through crisis resolution, assertive outreach and early intervention teams; increasing capacity and improving service quality.
	
		Earmarked funding for mental health
		
			 Primary care trust £000 
		
		
			 Adur, Arun and Worthing 355 
			 Airedale 170 
			 Amber Valley 178 
			 Ashfield 117 
			 Ashford 138 
			 Ashton, Leigh and Wigan 479 
			 Barking and Dagenham 258 
			 Barnet 514 
			 Barnsley 380 
			 Basildon 156 
			 Bassetlaw 148 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 236 
			 Bebington and West Wirral 159 
			 Bedford 205 
			 Bedfordshire Heartlands 313 
			 Bexhill and Rother 133 
			 Bexley 298 
			 Billericay, Brentwood and Wickford 184 
			 Birkenhead and Wallasey 356 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 242 
			 Blackpool 254 
			 Bolton 438 
			 Bournemouth 255 
			 Bracknell Forest 127 
			 Bradford City 225 
			 Bradford South and West 226 
			 Brent 465 
			 Brighton and Hove City 417 
			 Bristol North 342 
			 Bristol South and West 283 
			 Broadland 150 
			 Bromley 417 
			 Broxtowe and Hucknall 194 
			 Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale 396 
			 Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth 195 
			 Bury 268 
			 Calderdale 292 
			 Cambridge City 182 
			 Camden 408 
			 Cannock Chase 171 
			 Canterbury and Coastal 247 
			 Carlisle and District 172 
			 Castle Point and Rochford 223 
			 Central Cheshire 343 
			 Central Cornwall 285 
			 Central Derby 181 
			
			 Central Liverpool 457 
			 Central Manchester 301 
			 Central Suffolk 125 
			 Charnwood and North West Leicestershire 314 
			 Chelmsford 153 
			 Cheltenham and Tewkesbury 207 
			 Cherwell Vale 160 
			 Cheshire West 227 
			 Chesterfield 169 
			 Chiltern and South Bucks 207 
			 Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford 179 
			 Chorley and South Ribble 285 
			 City and Hackney 461 
			 Colchester 226 
			 Cotswold and Vale 262 
			 Coventry 489 
			 Craven, Harrogate and Rural District 286 
			 Crawley 154 
			 Croydon 508 
			 Dacorum 195 
			 Darlington 159 
			 Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley 313 
			 Daventry and South Northamptonshire 116 
			 Derbyshire Dales and South Derbyshire 115 
			 Derwentside 140 
			 Doncaster Central 162 
			 Doncaster East 134 
			 Doncaster West 170 
			 Dudley Beacon and Castle 160 
			 Dudley South 280 
			 Durham and Chester-Le-Street 227 
			 Durham Dales 142 
			 Ealing 544 
			 Easington 177 
			 East Birmingham 393 
			 East Cambridgeshire and Fenland 206 
			 East Devon 176 
			 East Elmbridge and Mid Surrey 359 
			 East Hampshire 262 
			 East Kent Coastal 383 
			 East Leeds 232 
			 East Lincolnshire 397 
			 East Staffordshire 171 
			 East Surrey 209 
			 East Yorkshire 199 
			 Eastbourne Downs 281 
			 Eastern Cheshire 255 
			 Eastern Hull 193 
			 Eastern Leicester 266 
			 Eastern Wakefield 284 
			 Eastleigh and Test Valley 187 
			 Eden Valley 97 
			 Ellesmere Port and Neston 124 
			 Enfield 404 
			 Epping Forest 151 
			 Erewash 141 
			 Exeter 180 
			 Fareham and Gosport 247 
			 Fylde 105 
			 Gateshead 339 
			 Gedling 135 
			 Great Yarmouth 144 
			 Greater Derby 218 
			 Greenwich 375 
			 Guildford and Waverley 323 
			 Halton 187 
			 Hambleton and Richmondshire 152 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 307 
			 Haringey 424 
			 Harlow 120 
			 Harrow 293 
			 Hartlepool 150 
			 Hastings and St. Leonards 157 
			
			 Havering 345 
			 Heart of Birmingham 464 
			 Herefordshire 238 
			 Hertsmere 124 
			 Heywood and Middleton 121 
			 High Peak and Dales 144 
			 Hillingdon 364 
			 Hinckley and Bosworth 122 
			 Horsham and Chanctonbury 118 
			 Hounslow 365 
			 Huddersfield Central 257 
			 Huntingdonshire 183 
			 Hyndburn and Ribble Valley 172 
			 Ipswich 205 
			 Isle of Wight 207 
			 Islington 401 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 373 
			 Kingston 243 
			 Knowsley 265 
			 Lambeth 539 
			 Langbaurgh 151 
			 Leeds North East 226 
			 Leeds North West 257 
			 Leeds West 167 
			 Leicester City West 217 
			 Lewisham 439 
			 Lincolnshire South West 244 
			 Luton 274 
			 Maidstone Weald 304 
			 Maldon and South Chelmsford 102 
			 Mansfield District 138 
			 Medway 357 
			 Melton, Rutland and Harborough 178 
			 Mendip 143 
			 Mid Devon 137 
			 Middlesbrough 315 
			 Mid-Hampshire 228 
			 Mid-Sussex 179 
			 Milton Keynes 297 
			 Morecambe Bay 467 
			 New Forest 249 
			 Newark and Sherwood 166 
			 Newbury and Community 132 
			 Newcastle 449 
			 Newcastle-Under-Lyme 153 
			 Newham 484 
			 North and East Cornwall 224 
			 North Birmingham 233 
			 North Bradford 139 
			 North Devon 215 
			 North Dorset 121 
			 North East Lincolnshire 239 
			 North East Oxfordshire 85 
			 North East Warwickshire 246 
			 North Eastern Derbyshire 226 
			 North Hampshire 241 
			 North Hertfordshire and Stevenage 261 
			 North Kirklees 210 
			 North Lincolnshire 218 
			 North Liverpool 187 
			 North Manchester 273 
			 North Norfolk 148 
			 North Peterborough 166 
			 North Sheffield 205 
			 North Somerset 262 
			 North Stoke 218 
			 North Surrey 285 
			 North Tees 273 
			 North Tyneside 326 
			 North Wilts and Kennet 253 
			 Northampton 292 
			 Northamptonshire Heartlands 378 
			 Northumberland Care Trust 463 
			
			 Norwich 203 
			 Nottingham City 474 
			 Oldbury and Smethwick 169 
			 Oldham 363 
			 Oxford City 253 
			 Plymouth 376 
			 Poole 244 
			 Portsmouth City 288 
			 Preston 228 
			 Reading 289 
			 Redbridge 243 
			 Redditch and Bromsgrove 204 
			 Richmond and Twickenham 276 
			 Rochdale 214 
			 Rotherham 379 
			 Rowley, Regis and Tipton 131 
			 Royston, Buntingford and Bishop's Stortford 94 
			 Rugby 119 
			 Rushcliffe 151 
			 Rushmore and Hart 231 
			 Salford 389 
			 Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale 236 
			 Sedgefield 152 
			 Selby and York 373 
			 Sheffield South West 188 
			 Sheffield West 181 
			 Shepway 154 
			 Shropshire County 384 
			 Slough 177 
			 Solihull 288 
			 Somerset Coast 202 
			 South and East Dorset 214 
			 South Birmingham 533 
			 South Cambridgeshire 116 
			 South East Hertfordshire 225 
			 South East Oxfordshire 100 
			 South East Sheffield 269 
			 South Gloucestershire 286 
			 South Hams and West Devon 150 
			 South Huddersfield 122 
			 South Leeds 227 
			 South Leicestershire 184 
			 South Liverpool 150 
			 South Manchester 237 
			 South Peterborough 123 
			 South Sefton 263 
			 South Somerset 201 
			 South Stoke 214 
			 South Tyneside 260 
			 South Warwickshire 325 
			 South West Dorset 202 
			 South West Kent 236 
			 South West Oxfordshire 233 
			 South Western Staffordshire 241 
			 South Wiltshire 161 
			 South Worcestershire 368 
			 Southampton City 354 
			 Southend On Sea 272 
			 Southern Norfolk 267 
			 Southport and Formby 175 
			 Southwark 451 
			 St. Albans and Harpenden 174 
			 St. Helens 295 
			 Staffordshire Moorlands 148 
			 Stockport 422 
			 Suffolk Coastal 131 
			 Suffolk West 303 
			 Sunderland Teaching 477 
			 Sussex Downs and Weald 199 
			 Sutton and Merton 529 
			 Swale 132 
			 Swindon 257 
			 Tameside and Glossop 356 
			
			 Taunton Deane 145 
			 Teignbridge 155 
			 Telford and Wrekin 219 
			 Tendring 219 
			 Thurrock 202 
			 Torbay 209 
			 Tower Hamlets 360 
			 Trafford North 147 
			 Trafford South 183 
			 Uttlesford 88 
			 Vale Of Aylesbury 244 
			 Wakefield West 218 
			 Walsall 398 
			 Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone 276 
			 Wandsworth 469 
			 Warrington 274 
			 Watford and Three Rivers 245 
			 Waveney 181 
			 Wednesbury and West Bromwich 186 
			 Welwyn Hatfield 136 
			 West Cumbria 204 
			 West Gloucestershire 299 
			 West Hull 250 
			 West Lancashire 158 
			 West Lincolnshire 308 
			 West Norfolk 209 
			 West Of Cornwall 234 
			 West Wiltshire 153 
			 Western Sussex 307 
			 Westminster 472 
			 Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead 224 
			 Witham, Braintree and Halstead PCG(6) 177 
			 Woking Area 245 
			 Wokingham 171 
			 Wolverhampton City 387 
			 Wycombe 181 
			 Wyre Forest 146 
			 Wyre 187 
			 Yorkshire Wolds and Coast 208 
			  
			 Total 75,000 
		
	
	(6) Planned care trust from 1 October 2002

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he plans to take steps to collect centrally information on (a) the proportion of individuals with a diagnosis of severe mental illness who are in employment and (b) trends in the prevalence of employment among such individuals.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 11 July 2002
	The Department is taking steps to ensure that this information is collected for both local and national monitoring. Local services have been asked to ensure that written care plans for people with mental health problems on the enhanced level of the care programme approach show plans to secure suitable employment or other occupational activity. The outcomes implementation programme and the implementation of the mental health minimum data set will ensure that these data are collected routinely.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of community mental health teams are fully integrated as between NHS and social services.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 11 July 2002
	The information requested is not collected centrally.

Mental Health

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on black and ethnic minority groups of the proposals contained in the draft Mental Health Bill.

Jacqui Smith: The Government acknowledge the inequalities that people from black and minority ethnic groups face in mental health services and the over-representation, in particular, of young black men in the mental health system has been well documented (Mental Health Act Commission Biennial Report 2001). The mental health task force has been given a specific remit to look at black and ethnic mental health and are developing a strategy that will address the provision of services to people from these groups, while the proposals contained in the draft Mental Health Bill will offer individuals greater safeguards of their rights.

Mental Health

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the effect he estimates extending compulsion, as envisaged in the draft Mental Health Bill, will have on average waiting times for treatment.

Jacqui Smith: We anticipate that the impact on waiting times for urgent treatment will be minimal. The implementation of the "national service framework for mental health", and the development of new services such as assertive outreach, crisis resolution and early intervention, will help to ensure that fewer people become so ill that they need compulsory treatment.

Care Homes

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the availability of care home places in the south-west.

Jacqui Smith: At 31 March 2001, there were 44,791 registered residential care places and 24,073 registered nursing care beds in the south-west.

Care Homes

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with Government Departments and other organisations about the treatment of elderly people in residential and nursing care for the purposes of the standard spending assessment.

Jacqui Smith: I have had a number of recent discussions with other Government Departments and organisations about the older people's standard spending assessment formulae. I also commissioned independent research into this formula. As a result of these discussions and research there are a number of possible options for change to the existing formula that we are considering. A consultation document was issued on 8 July setting out these options and councils have 12 weeks to comment on them.

Care Homes

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new admissions to care homes during each of the last five years in England and Wales he is aware were previously resident in Scotland.

Jacqui Smith: Information is not centrally held on the previous place of residence of residents in care homes in England. Questions relating to Wales are a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

Care Homes

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residents of England and Wales he is aware have chosen to enter into a care home in Scotland in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: Information is not held centrally in respect of individuals normally resident in England and in care homes. Information in respect of residents in care homes in Scotland and of individuals normally resident in Wales and in care homes are the responsibility of the respective devolved Administrations.

Care Homes

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide a list, by region, of the publicly funded elderly care homes in the last five years; and how much money they received in real terms.

Jacqui Smith: Prior to April this year, local councils were responsible for the registration of residential care homes. Lists of registered homes were not maintained centrally. Nor are there central records of the size of contracts entered into with individual homes either by councils or by people who used income support to purchase care which they had arranged for themselves. However, the following table shows the gross expenditure on residential care and nursing provision by councils with social services responsibilities in each region in England at 2000–01 prices for the five years from 1996–97 to 2000–01.
	
		Elderly residential and nursing homes placements—gross expenditure by local authorities at 2000–01 prices -- £ million
		
			 Region 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01(7) 
		
		
			 North West 475 486 512 533 568 
			 North East 143 161 174 202 237 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 294 319 337 355 411 
			 East Midlands 233 242 258 286 305 
			 East 254 273 295 313 344 
			 London 394 415 431 437 489 
			 South East 405 428 443 457 483 
			 South West 244 265 298 325 357 
			 West Midlands 278 312 330 353 371 
			  
			 Total England 2,721 2,901 3,077 3,262 3,565 
		
	
	(7) 2000–01 figures are inclusive of overhead costs.
	Source:
	Form RO3 (PSS EX1 from 2000–01)—annual return of social services expenditure made by local authorities.

Care Homes

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission a study comparing the quality of care between public and private care homes.

Jacqui Smith: There is no need for such a survey. Under section 7(1)(b) of the Care Standards Act 2000, the National Care Standards Commission has a duty of keeping my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State informed about the quality of services regulated under Part II of the Act.

MS Sufferers

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered respite care homes for MS sufferers there are; and how many have closed since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: We do not collect this information centrally.
	I understand from the MS Society that there are 204 registered nursing or residential homes providing respite care, where staff have attended an MS study day and so have a basic knowledge of the condition.
	In addition, I understand that the society provides respite specifically for people with multiple sclerosis at three registered nursing homes in England. It also operates three homes which provide holidays for people with MS who have lower dependency, for carers, and for people with other conditions.
	The management of these homes is a matter for the MS Society.

MS Sufferers

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the availability of drug treatments for patients suffering from multiple sclerosis.

Jacqui Smith: Up to 9,000 patients in England and Wales may be eligible to receive a drug treatment for their multiple sclerosis under the risk-sharing scheme, which started on 6 May 2002. Patients are now being treated under the scheme, but we recognise that appropriate infrastructure is not yet in place in some localities.

MS Sufferers

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if Copaxone is available at St. Bartholomew's Hospital; and for what reasons a valid prescription for Copaxone would be inadmissible.

John Hutton: holding answer 4 July 2002
	Copaxone (glatiramer acetate) is available on the national health service under the risk-sharing scheme for disease modifying drugs for multiple sclerosis (MS) that came into operation on 6 May 2002.
	Barts and the London NHS Trust met with specialist commissioners on 5 July and agreed funding arrangements for MS therapy. A clinical discussion forum took place on 11 July. As a result of these discussions, all patients who are under the NHS for their MS care but are receiving MS therapy on a private prescription, are now eligible for NHS treatment, as long as the Association of British Neurologists criteria has been met. Consequently, all patients in this category will now be called in for review.

Hospices

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on funding for hospices in Lancashire.

Hazel Blears: During 2001–02, primary care trusts in Lancashire provided a total of £2.5 million to hospices in their respective areas. These included: Trinity Hospice in Fylde; St. John's Hospice in Lancaster; St. Catherine's Hospice in Preston; Derian House Hospice in Chorley; Burnley and Pendle Hospice; Rossendale Hospice; Springhill Hospice in Rochdale; East Lancashire Hospice; St. Joseph's Hospice, Jospice International; and Queenscourt Hospice.

Hospices

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his oral answer of 18 June 2002, Official Report, column 140W, on hospices, what evidence he used to base his estimate of the need for funds for palliative care in hospices.

Hazel Blears: It is for the national health service locally to make arrangements for financial support for hospices based on the agreed strategic plans for palliative care provision within each cancer network's service delivery plan.
	The National Council for Hospices and Specialist Palliative Care Services undertake an annual survey on investment in palliative care. They estimate the total expenditure on adult palliative care services to be around £300 million of which around £170 million is provided by the voluntary sector and £130 million by the NHS. The Government have pledged in the NHS Cancer Plan that funding for specialist palliative care services, including hospices, will increase by £50 million by 2004.

NHS Menus

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress in introducing the new NHS menus.

David Lammy: Good progress is being made in introducing the new menu and ward housekeeping. This long term initiative, supported by £38.5 million, is already delivering more choice and better quality to patients across the NHS. Two thirds of trusts were on course to include three leading chef dishes by April.

Cystic Fibrosis

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are to ensure that neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis will be made universally available and free of charge.

Jacqui Smith: A developmental programme is in place to plan for the NHS provision of neonatal cystic fibrosis screening. Further advice from the UK National Screening Committee about time scales and details on the implementation of a national programme, is expected in the autumn.

Cystic Fibrosis

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will add cystic fibrosis to the list of conditions exempt from prescription charges.

David Lammy: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien) on 20 June 2002, Official Report, column 544W.

Overseas Treatment

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the assessment of the initial project involving sending patients overseas will be complete; and if that assessment will be made public.

John Hutton: Following a competitive tender exercise the York University Health Economics Consortium was commissioned to evaluate the pilot scheme to refer NHS patients overseas for routine elective surgery. Copies of the final report will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament and published on the Department of Health website.

Health Care Expenditure

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of household expenditure on health care in the period 1997 to 2001.

John Hutton: Expenditure on the national health service in England increased from £1,620 per household in 1996–97 to £2,095 per household in 2000–01.

GPs

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase the number of general practitioners.

John Hutton: The NHS is working towards a target of 2,000 more general practitioners by 2004 and to continued growth thereafter.
	We are increasing the number of doctors training to be GPs. There are now 1,910 General Practice Registrars, the highest ever number of doctors in training for general practice.

GPs

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from general practitioners who say they cannot admit further patients to their GP practices; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: We have received no recent representations on this subject from general practitioners or their representative organisations.

Disability Equipment Services

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve disability equipment services.

Jacqui Smith: In relation to the five disability equipment services covered by the Audit Commission's 'Fully Equipped' reports, plans are: to continue to invest in and modernise audiology and community equipment services; to improve the commissioning of orthotic and prosthetic services, and for the Department of Health to work with the Modernisation Agency to identify and spread good practice for wheelchair services.

Drug Addicts

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the availability and effectiveness of treatment for drug addicts in Worcester.

David Lammy: No formal assessment of local drug action teams currently takes place, but this is being developed. The National Treatment Agency (NTA) was established in 2001 to set standards and ensure that every drug treatment programme is of the highest effectiveness. The NTA has agreed a business plan to deliver its targets up to March 2003.
	Locally, the Worcestershire Substance Misuse Action Team (SMAT) is responsible for ensuring quality services for drug addicts, in line with the national drug strategy, and is developing a framework for assessing the effectiveness of treatment. The SMAT also reports regularly to the NTA. Worcestershire primary care trusts commit over £2 million to the treatment of substance misuse.

Free Personal Care

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the provision of free personal care.

Jacqui Smith: The Government's policy on the funding of personal care is set out in paragraph 15.20 of the NHS Plan, a copy of which is available in the Library.

Doctor Numbers

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his policies to increase the number of general practitioners and consultants in the NHS.

John Hutton: We recognise the need for increases in the number of general practitioners (GPs) and consultants. "Delivering the NHS Plan", published in April this year, now includes the latest forecasts for growth in the national health service work force. By 2008, we expect there to be 15,000 more doctors and GPs than in 2001.

Privately Funded Operations

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to collate information on an annual basis on the number of people who have funded their operations themselves.

John Hutton: The Department collects and publishes information on the number of patients who are treated privately in national health service hospitals, but it does not collect information on who pays for such treatment. We have no plans to collect that information, nor to collect information on the number of people who have operations performed privately in the independent sector.

Refugee Doctors

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support he will introduce to enable refugee doctors to get the training and qualifications needed to work within the NHS.

John Hutton: We are committed to enabling refugee doctors to access the training opportunities they need to succeed in the national health service. Over the last two years £1 million has been made available to various projects designed to help refugee health professionals prepare for work in the NHS, by providing English language and clinical skills training, along with guidance on gaining employment in the NHS.

NHS Hygiene

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken to improve standards of cleanliness in NHS facilities.

David Lammy: The NHS Plan, which was published in July 2000, set out a work programme for the national health service to improve the standards in cleanliness within hospitals and initiated an immediate nationwide campaign to clean and smarten up the NHS. Patient environment action teams (PEAT) undertook unannounced visits to assess progress. Over £60 million has been invested to make improvements to the hospital environment since the NHS Plan was launched, which will directly benefit patients and visitors.
	The clean hospitals programme has been a clear success and has had a significant impact on standards of cleanliness, decoration and supporting services, to the extent that by October last year there were no hospitals in England where cleaning standards were found to be less than acceptable. Standards are now much more in line with patients' expectations. National results of the PEAT programme, as set out in the table, were published on 31 October 2001.
	
		
			  Red (poor) Yellow (acceptable) Green (good) 
		
		
			 Autumn 2001 0 387 300 
		
	
	New national standards for cleanliness in the NHS, which form part of the performance assessment framework, were issued to the NHS last year. They describe what a "clean" hospital looks like and will help all hospitals further raise the levels of cleanliness and, importantly, they will help to ensure that the standards achieved are maintained in the future. This means that for the first time there is a definitive set of cleaning standards with which all trusts will have to comply.

Beta Interferon

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when beta interferon will be available to those assessed as needing it in South Derbyshire.

David Lammy: Beta interferon has already been made available to a number of patients previously paying for beta interferon. The local health community are discussing issues connected with delivering the national guidance. The new arrangements will be fully in place later this year.

Health Prioritising

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made on the impact of his prioritising certain services and disease areas on those services and disease areas not so prioritised.

John Hutton: Since 1997, the Department of Health has put in place comprehensive performance management and assessment procedures to ensure that the national health service provides services that can meet the needs of all patients.

Sausage Casings

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the incidence of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in the national sheep flocks of (a) EU member states and (b) non-EU countries which process and export natural sausage casings.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 9 July 2002
	I have been asked to reply.
	Information on the number of scrapie cases in member states is available on the European Commission's website at www.europa.eu.int. Between 1998 and 2000, the following numbers of cases have been reported: Belgium 19 cases; Denmark nil; Germany three cases; Greece 130 cases; Spain five cases; France 97 cases (1998–99 only); Ireland 198 cases; Italy 208 cases (1998–99 only); Luxembourg nil; Netherlands 32 cases (1998–99 only); Austria five cases; Portugal nil; Finland nil; Sweden nil; UK 1,652 cases.
	Information on scrapie cases in non-EU countries is available on the website of the Office Internationale des Epizooties at www.oie.int. The main exporters of sheep casings are Pakistan, Turkey and New Zealand. According to OIE data, Pakistan, which has a scrapie surveillance programme, has not reported any occurrence of the disease. The last reported occurrence of scrapie in New Zealand was in 1954. No information is available in relation to Turkey.

Health and Social Policy

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals the Government have to improve the co-ordination of health and social care, youth and leisure, careers, guidance, education and benefits services.

John Denham: holding answer 8 July 2002
	I have been asked to reply.
	The Connexions Service, which is currently being rolled out across the country, brings together a range of services working with young people to make sure 13–19 year olds receive cohesive advice, guidance, support and personal development opportunities.
	The Government's consultation document, "Building a Strategy for Children and Young People", included proposals for improving the co-ordination of services for all children and young people aged 0–19, building on the experience of Connexions and other initiatives. We are currently considering the responses to this consultation exercise.

Bed Blocking (Lancashire)

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his plans to tackle bed blocking in Lancashire.

Jacqui Smith: In 2001–02, the Government allocated in excess of £2 million to the three social services departments, Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool, in the form of the Building Care Capacity Grant to reduce delayed transfers of care. In 2002–03, these authorities will receive £4 million. In addition, they will receive more than £1.75 million from the performance fund towards improvements in intermediate care. Delayed transfer numbers in Lancashire are among the lowest in the country.

EU Directives

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the EU directives relating to his Department which have been (a) amended and (b) repealed in 2002.

David Lammy: The following European Union directives have been amended and repealed in 2002:
	European Parliament and Council directive 2001/83/EC on the Community Code Relating to Medicinal Products for Human Use, which incorporated Commission directive 2000/38/EC on administrative action relating to medicinal products (pharmacovigilance), repealed the following EU directives: Council directive 65/65/EEC of 26 January 1965 on the approximation of provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action relating to medicinal products, as amended by:
	Council directive 66/454/EEC
	Council directive 75/319/EEC
	Council directive 83/570/EEC
	Council directive 87/21/EEC
	Council directive 89/341/EEC
	Council directive 92/27/EEC
	Council directive 93/39/EEC.
	Council Directive 75/318/EEC of 20 May 1975 on the approximation of the laws of member states relating to analytical, pharmacotoxological and clinical standards and protocols in respect of the testing of medicinal products, as amended by:
	Council directive 83/570/EEC
	Council directive 87/19/EEC
	Council directive 89/341/EEC
	Commission directive 91/507/EEC
	Council directive 93/39/EEC
	Commission directive 1999/82/EC
	Commission directive 1999/83/EC.
	Council directive 75/319/EEC of 20 May 1975 on the approximation of provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action relating to medicinal products, as amended by:
	Council directive 78/420/EEC
	Council directive 83/570/EEC
	Council directive 89/341/EEC
	Council directive 92/27/EEC
	Council directive 93/39/EEC
	Commission directive 2000/38/EC.
	Council directive 89/342/EEC of 3 May 1989 extending the scope of Directives 65/65/EEC and 75/319/EEC and laying down additional provisions of immunological medicinal products consisting of vaccines, toxins or serums and allergens.
	Council directive 89/343/EEC of 3 May 1989 extending the scope of directives 65/65/EEC and 75/319/EEC and laying down additional provisions for radiopharmaceuticals.
	Council directive 89/381/EEC of 14 June 1989 extending the scope of directives 65/65/EEC and 75/319/EEC on the approximation of provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action relating to medicinal products and laying down special provisions for medicinal products derived from human blood or human plasma.
	Council directive 92/25/EEC of 31 March 1992 on the wholesale distribution of medicinal products for human use.
	Council directive 92/26/EEC of 31 March 1992 concerning the classification for the supply of medicinal products for human use.
	Council directive 92/27/EEC of 31 March 1992 on the labelling of medicinal products for human use and on package leaflets.
	Council directive 92/28/EEC of 31 March 1992 on the advertising of medicinal products for human use.
	Council directive 92/73/EEC of 22 September 1992 widening the scope of directives 65/65/EEC and 75/319/EEC on the approximation of provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action relating to medicinal products and laying down additional provisions on homeopathic medicinal products.
	The Medical Devices directive (93/42/EEC) was amended by directive 2001/104/EC and directive 2000/70/EC as regards medical devices incorporating stable derivatives of human blood or human plasma.

Rapid Response Units

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many rapid response units are operating in each NHS region to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions.

Jacqui Smith: Information on the number of rapid response units is not collected centrally.

Buildings Insurance

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of buildings insurance to his Department was (a) before and (b) after 11 September 2001.

David Lammy: Departments are required to comply with the Government's general policy on insurance, which is set out in Government Accounting, Chapter 30, para.30.2.5, which notes that Government do not need to purchase insurance to protect the viability of their business, and should consider insurance only where the value of claims met would exceed the cost of insurance premiums. Commercial insurance of a building is acceptable in cases where (a) insurance is a condition of a lease (b) the lessor will not accept a Government indemnity; or (c) incurring the total cost of the accommodation in question, including the cost of the insurance, is more cost-effective than other accommodation options.
	Financial records show the following payments in respect of buildings occupied by the Department (excluding Agencies) against the heading of building insurance:
	2000–01: £67,050
	2001–02: £56,443.
	Meaningful comparisons between one year and another are difficult to make, due to changes in the estate and consequent insurance obligations. The following four premises were occupied during all or part of 2000–01 and not during all of 2001–02:
	Temple Way, Bristol (Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry)—finally cleared/vacated 1 August 2001;
	Norwich House, Liverpool (Alder Hey Inquiry)—vacated 15 December 2000;
	Trevelyan House, London SW1 (HDA)—vacated 15 March 2002.
	The timing of payments during the year, to meet policy renewal notices, mean it is not possible as yet to identify any effects of the events of 11 September on premium levels.

Infliximab

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions have taken place between his Department and the National Institute of Clinical Excellence about the use of infliximab.

David Lammy: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued guidance on infliximab for Crohns Disease in May 2002 and recommended to the national health service in England and Wales that infliximab should be available to some people with severe active Crohn's disease.
	In March 2002 NICE recommended that, etanercept and infliximab, new drugs for the treatment of arthritis, may be given as part of the management of rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients who have rheumatoid arthritis that has not responded adequately to at least two disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, including methotrexate.
	As a stakeholder the Department and National Assembly for Wales are given the opportunity to comment on draft scopes and the provisional guidance. The NICE review of infliximab is due May 2005, and during revision the Department and National Assembly for Wales will be given the opportunity to comment on the draft appraisal.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  for what reason the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority 2001 annual report and accounts diverged from previous practice in not providing performance data on (a) IVF data, (b) multiple births, (c) two and three embryo transfer and (d) donor insemination;
	(2)  for what reason the publishing of the HFEA 2001 annual report and accounts was delayed for nine months.

Hazel Blears: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has identified some problems with its information technology infrastructure. These problems are now being resolved, but they have delayed the availability of recent performance data.
	The annual report was held back in the hope that the data would be ready to include. When this proved not to be possible, the decision was taken to go ahead and publish the annual report without the data.
	The data will be made available shortly on the HFEA's website.

Birth Statistics

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what targets have been set for the reduction of (a) premature births, (b) stillbirths and (c) miscarriages.

Jacqui Smith: Although specific reduction targets have not been set, we are continuing to support the work of the confidential inquiry into stillbirths and deaths in infancy to improve care during pregnancy and provide the right quality and level of support. The difficulties of premature birth and the tragedy of losing a child through stillbirth and miscarriage have some associations with, and are always compounded by, poverty and social exclusion. We are addressing this through the 'Sure Start' initiative, including pilot programmes to provide personal co-ordinated support for pregnant teenagers, and parents under the age of 18. We are also investing more in the provision of maternity care and seeking to ensure the most effective configuration of these essential services.

Kaiser Permanente

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers have held with Kaiser Permanente in the last six months.

David Lammy: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met with David Laurence of Kaiser Permanente on Wednesday 19 June 2002. Both special advisers attended the meeting.

NICE

Julia Drown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to ensure NHS staff are involved in deciding on the future work programme of NICE.

David Lammy: The Department consulted recently on a series of proposals to make it easier for national health service staff to propose topics for the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's (NICE) future work programme, and to involve them more fully in the process of assessing and prioritising proposals. The response to the consultation is now being analysed and an announcement will be made as soon as possible. That response will also take account of recommendations made by the Health Select Committee in its recent report on NICE.

Sun Awareness

Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has to fund a nationally co-ordinated sun awareness programme for the United Kingdom;
	(2)  whether he plans to launch a follow-up campaign to the sun know how campaign;
	(3)  how much money has been allocated annually to sun awareness campaigns since April 2000;
	(4)  what the cost was of the Health Education Authority's sun know how campaign from April 1999 to April 2000;
	(5)  how much the Government have invested in sun awareness campaigns in each year since 1995.

Hazel Blears: The health education authority (HEA) was originally commissioned by the Department in 1996 to provide sun awareness information. The HEA then developed the "Sun Know How" campaign up until the HEA's functions were moved to the health development agency and health promotion England in March 2000. As the "Sun Know How" messages had been successful, existing HEA promotional material continued to be made available but on a smaller scale. The success of the campaign was acknowledged and it was recognised that a new approach was needed.
	From 2001 work has been undertaken towards a co-ordinated programme of work to counter skin cancer. A collaboration group was formed by the departmental funded national radiological protection board (NRPB) with other key organisations such as Cancer Research (UK), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the British Association of Dermatology (BAD). Various initiatives are taking place to raise awareness of sun safety and information is available from NHS Direct. On 14 March a new website, www.doh.gov.uk/sunsafe, providing sun safety advice, was launched. We are also collaborating with other key stakeholders this year in ensuring that a range of sun safety advice is publicly available. For example, the Department funds the Meteorological Office ultra violet index for radio, television and newspaper forecasters. The NRPB is currently running a sunsense campaign and the HSE is targeting outdoor workers in their advertising campaign.
	We have no current plans to launch an equivalent to the "Sun Know How" campaign as run by the then HEA.
	The HEA's campaign launched in 1996–97 anticipated spending £1.5 million over three years to 1998–99. Detailed figures on the final spend by year by the HEA are not available.
	In 1999–2000 spending on the "Sun Know How" campaign by the HEA was £543,000. Since then, spending on sun awareness by the Department in 2000–01 was £50,000, and in 2001–02 was £126,000.

Solihull Hospital

John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new recruitment will be needed at Solihull hospital to facilitate its proposed improved accident and emergency service; and whether the necessary resources are in place to support that recruitment.

David Lammy: The Birmingham Heartlands and Solihull National Health Service Trust will recruit two additional consultants specialising in accident and emergency medicine, a new tier of four critical care/clinical fellow grades, specialist physicians and additional nurses including emergency nurse practitioners. The resources required are still being finalised but Solihull Primary Care Trust has agreed to pre-commit revenue resources in emergency care during the forthcoming priority setting process.

Solihull Hospital

John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that recruitment difficulties do not stand in the way of proposed improvements to accident and emergency provision at Solihull hospital.

David Lammy: Responsibility for the recruitment of staff for local services rests with local national health service trusts. The Birmingham Heartlands and Solihull NHS Trust is confident that recruitment difficulties will not occur and believe the new tier of critical care/clinical fellow grades, a rigorous recruitment campaign and the trust's commitment to "Improving Working Lives" will ensure the right calibre and number of staff will be recruited.

Prescription Drugs

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is his policy for payments made to pharmacists by the NHS in respect of the supply of prescription drugs to comply with the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Act 1998 and the Late Payment Directive.

David Lammy: We do not consider that the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 applies to payments made to pharmacists by the national health service in respect of the supply of prescription drugs. We are considering the position in relation to Directive 2000/35/EC on combating late payment in commercial transactions.

NHS Trust Reviews

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it the Government's policy that the Commission for Health Improvement should respond positively to a request by an NHS trust to conduct a review of any department identified by the trust as in need of review.

David Lammy: The Health Act 1999 requires the Commission for Health Improvement to undertake local reviews (known as clinical governance reviews) to examine the quality of care provided by national health service bodies. The commission may also undertake investigations into the management, provision and quality of health care NHS bodies provide. The commission will consider all requests for investigations against its published criteria. Copies of the commission's "Policy on assessing requests for investigations and fast track clinical governance reviews" are available in the Library and on its website at www.chi.nhs.uk.

Medical Research Council

David Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the (a) terms of reference and (b) timetable for the independent scientific advisory group of the Medical Research Council on CFS and ME due to be set up in spring 2002; and who the members of the group are.

David Lammy: The Medical Research Council (MRC) have now agreed to set up an advisory group. Their final report should be made available early in 2003.
	The proposed terms of reference are:
	to consider the report of the independent working party on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), including its recommendations for research;
	to consider other recent reviews of current knowledge and understanding of CFS/ME;
	to take account of patient and lay perspectives;
	to recommend to MRC a research strategy to advance understanding of the aetiology, epidemiology and biology of CFS/ME; and
	in the light of current knowledge, suggest what areas of further research are needed with regard to possible treatments.
	The group members are:
	Professor Nancy Rothwell (Chair)
	Professor Janet Darbyshire
	Professor Diana Elbourne
	Professor Alan McGregor
	Professor Jonathan Weber
	Professor Jackie Oldham
	Professor Til Wykes
	Professor Philip Cowen
	Professor Jon Nicholl
	Jacqueline Apperly
	Sue Haselhurst
	Observer Department of Health.

Performance Targets

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 2 July 2002, Official Report, column 306W, on performance targets, how many performance targets he has set for the NHS; and how many that were included last year have been dropped this year.

David Lammy: It has been the Government's policy to reduce the number of priorities facing national health service organisations in order to shift the balance of power away from the centre. A reduction was achieved in the 2002–03 planning and priorities framework in comparison to the previous year.
	An on-going commitment to this approach has been made, with the Government's "Delivering the NHS Plan" document stating very clearly that our plans to modernise the NHS do not constitute a raft of extra targets.

Energy Efficiency

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made on achieving energy efficiency targets by the NHS.

David Lammy: The national health service in England successfully achieved the 20 per cent. reduction in energy use from a base year of 1990 to 2000. In line with the Government's climate change programme, the NHS in England has now been set a new mandatory target to reduce the level of primary energy consumption by 15 per cent. or 0.15 million tonnes carbon from March 2000 to March 2010.
	NHS Estates (an Executive Agency of the Department) is working with the Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme (now Action Energy) to assist the NHS to meet this challenging target. Progress and activity continues to be monitored using the agency's database. It is too early to determine progress against this new target.

AIDS

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been spent (a) on research and (b) on care in connection with AIDS in each of the past three years.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 10 July 2002
	Expenditure on AIDS research was £20.2 million in 1999–2000 and £21.3 million in 2000–01. Data for 2001–02 are currently being compiled and are expected to be in line with spend for previous years.
	Expenditure on HIV/AIDS treatment and social care is shown in the table.
	
		£ million 
		
			   NHS Local authorities Total 
		
		
			 1999–2000 233 15.5 248.5 
			 2000–01 234.6 16 250.6 
			 2001–02 276.2 16.5 292.7

Cancer

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the differences are in treatment for (a) colon cancer and (b) other cancers.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 10 July 2002
	The NHS Cancer Plan set out our intention to ensure that people with all types of cancer get the best treatments. Evidence based guidance to improve outcomes in each of the tumour groups is being published by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE also continue to appraise and issue guidance on the use of new chemotherapy treatments. When developing its guidance, NICE takes into account relevant evidence from all over the world.

Public Interest Company

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 2 July 2002, Official Report, column 303W, on mutual organisations, if he will make a statement defining the modus operandi of a public interest company.

David Lammy: holding answer 10 July 2002
	The public interest company is one option being considered by the Department for the legal status of national health service foundation trusts. We will publish further details in due course.

Departmental Memos

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many written communications were sent to (a) NHS hospitals and (b) primary care trusts in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001 by his Department;
	(2)  how many written directives were sent to (a) NHS hospitals and (b) primary care trusts in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001 by his Department.

David Lammy: holding answer 10 July 2002
	The number of written directives and communications which where sent to national health service hospitals, primary care trusts in 2000 and 2001 by the Department are shown in the tables.
	
		Health service circulars sent to chief executives of NHS trusts and primary care trusts in 2000 and 2001
		
			  To chief executives of:  
			   NHS trusts Primary care trusts To chief executives of NHS trusts and chief executives of primary care trusts 
		
		
			 2000 16 2 15 
			 2001 1 1 19 
		
	
	
		Electronic bulletins and other e-communications to chief executives of NHS trusts and primary care trusts in 2000 and 2001(8)
		
			E-bulletins Other e-communications 
		
		
			 2000 52 100 
			 2001 111 111 
		
	
	(8) Both chief executives of NHS trusts and chief executives of primary care trusts were on the distribution list for all e-communications.

E-prescriptions

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which health authorities' general practitioners are able to write prescriptions produced by computer and issued electronically.

David Lammy: holding answer 10 July 2002
	Almost every general practitioner (GP) has a desktop PC. Software suppliers must meet Requirement for Accreditation standards for GP's to be reimbursed. Therefore they must ensure that systems support the ability to write prescriptions via the desktop. Limited numbers of GPs are able to issue prescriptions electronically via the Electronic Transmission of Prescription pilots, which are currently being run by three private sector consortiums on behalf of the Department.

National Care Standards Commission

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding the amounts taken from local authorities to fund the National Care Standards Commission.

Jacqui Smith: The Department has received six letters regarding the amounts taken from local authorities through the standards spending assessment (SSA) to fund the National Care Standards Commission.
	Before deciding to transfer local authorities net expenditure on registration and inspection from the national SSA we consulted local authorities. This method of transferring funds was supported by most local authorities. However, as a result of the comments we received we reduced the amount of the transfer. We believe the adjustments made represent a fair way of deciding what to deduct from local authority budgets.

Child Protection in Sport

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings he has had with Ministers in other Departments with regard to (a) child protection in sport and (b) inter-agency working on child protection in sport.

Jacqui Smith: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State has had no meetings with ministerial colleagues specifically regarding child protection in sport or inter-agency working on child protection in sport. However, officials have attended meetings of the child protection in sport unit steering group—a joint initiative between the National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children and Sport England. The child protection in sport unit advises organisations on how to introduce child protection policies, commissions research into abuse within sport and raises the profile of child protection among sports' governing bodies. One of the unit's key aims is that sport will play a full and positive part in inter-agency child protection work.

Arthritic Knee Conditions

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is with respect to promoting alternatives to surgery for arthritic knee conditions; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The ultimate responsibility for deciding what treatment is best for an individual patient rests with health professionals, who in consultation with the patient, are required to exercise their clinical judgment. These decisions can be complex and may need to take account of a range of factors; chief among these must be the ability of the patient to benefit from the treatment proposed. Non-surgical treatments for arthritis include the new drugs, infliximab (Remicade) and etanecerpt (Enbrel) which were recently approved by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.
	The importance of good arthritis services, particularly for the health and well being of older people is recognised in the national service framework for older people.

ICT Procurement

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his director of procurement is in charge of ICT procurement.

David Lammy: holding answer 11 July 2002
	The Department's head of procurement is responsible for information and communication technology (ICT) procurement for the Department itself.
	Procurements undertaken by national health service trusts and authorities in England are formally the responsibility of the relevant chief executive. They are advised and supported by the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency. As an integral part of the Department, the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency is in a key position to advise on policy and the strategic direction of procurement, and its impact on developing healthcare, across the NHS. The agency contracts on a national basis for products and services that are strategically critical to the NHS (including ICT). It also acts in cases where aggregated purchasing power will yield greater economic savings than those achieved by contracting on a local or regional basis.
	National strategic procurements for the NHS in England are undertaken by the NHS information authority in conjunction with the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency.
	Overall direction of the NHS information management and technology strategy for the NHS in England, including ICT procurement policy, is led by the director of research, analysis and information, Sir John Pattison.

Hearing Aids

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 1 July 2002, Official Report, column 156W, on audiology services, what the cost was to the NHS of purchasing each digital hearing aid under the previous contract; and what the cost is under the newly negotiated contract.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 15 July 2002
	Under the national health service contract, digital hearing aids had been available at a cost of between £140 and £205 each, for moderately powered aids. The contracts and prices have been renegotiated by a team set up by Ministers and led by James Strachan, Chief Executive of Royal National Institute for the Deaf, which includes representatives from the Department and the purchasing and supply agency, and allows moderate powered digital aids to be purchased at £65 to £75 each plus value added tax.

Organ Transplants

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many organs were made available for transplant in each of the regional retrieval zones in (a) 2000 and (b) 2001; what the population estimate is for each retrieval zone; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The information requested is in the following tables.
	
		Kidneys retrieved from cadaveric donors for transplantation, England, 2000, 2001, by kidney retrieval centre, including per million population values (pmp)
		
			   Kidneys retrieved—2000  Kidneys retrieved—2001  
			 Retrieval/alliance centre Number Per million population Number Per million population Retrieval population estimates (million) 
		
		
			 Newcastle 138 46.9 135 45.9 2.94 
			 Leeds 65 17.3 63 16.8 3.76 
			 Leicester 54 25.2 26 12.1 2.14 
			 Nottingham 38 27.3 26 18.7 1.39 
			 Sheffield 40 21.3 44 23.4 1.88 
			 Cambridge 41 17.2 65 27.2 2.39 
			 N Thames 123 17.1 169 23.5 7.19 
			 S Thames 202 30.0 185 27.5 6.73 
			 Portsmouth 61 26.6 62 27.1 2.29 
			 Oxford 82 27.4 60 20.1 2.99 
			 Bristol 24 12.2 46 23.5 1.96 
			 Plymouth 52 29.2 52 29.2 1.78 
			 Birmingham 70 15.5 93 20.6 4.51 
			 Coventry 40 50.0 28 35.0 0.80 
			 Liverpool 85 25.8 67 20.3 3.30 
			 Manchester 125 30.9 96 23.7 4.05 
			 England 1,240 24.8 1,217 24.3 50.10 
		
	
	
		Cardiothoracic organs retrieved from cadaveric donors for transplantation, England, 2000, 2001, by donation zone, including per million population values (pmp)
		
			   Organs retrieved—2000  Organs retrieved—2001  
			 Donation zone Number Per million population Number Per million population Retrieval population estimates (million) 
		
		
			 Newcastle 56 7.5 54 7.2 7.51 
			 Sheffield 41 9.6 46 10.8 4.27 
			 Papworth 90 9.6 65 6.9 9.36 
			 Harefield 76 6.1 113 9.1 12.38 
			 St. George's 62 9.1 68 10.0 6.83 
			 Birmingham 36 5.0 30 4.2 7.14 
			 Manchester 51 7.8 32 4.9 6.54 
			 England 412 8.2 408 8.1 50.10 
		
	
	Note:
	Cardiothoracic organs comprise hearts and lungs (sometimes transplanted in combination).
	
		Livers retrieved from cadaveric donors for transplantation, England, 2000, 2001, by donation zone, including per million population values (pmp)
		
			   Organs retrieved—2000  Organs retrieved—2001 
			 Donation zone Number Per million population Number Per million population Retrieval population estimates (million) 
		
		
			 Newcastle 53 16.3 49 15.1 3.25 
			 Leeds 120 13.6 93 10.6 8.81 
			 Cambridge 83 10.3 81 10.1 8.05 
			 The Royal Free 50 8.9 59 10.5 5.64 
			 Kings College 164 11.4 174 12.1 14.42 
			 Birmingham 138 10.0 145 10.5 13.86 
			 England 608 12.1 601 12.0 50.10 
		
	
	Note:
	Drafting guidelines are attached to the PQ Reference Guide.

Queen Alexandra Hospital

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the cost is of the proposed private finance initiative expansion of Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham;
	(2)  what the latest annual running cost was of Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 15 July 2002
	I have been advised by Portsmouth Hospitals National Health Service Trust that the cost of the private finance initiative, to reconfigure services to focus on the Queen Alexandra Hospital, is currently estimated at £173 million.
	The trust also informs me that its 2000–01 accounts record a turnover of £212.5 million. It is not possible to separate out individual hospital sites. The 2001–02 accounts are to be presented to the trust board for adoption this month.

Queen Alexandra Hospital

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will answer the question of 13 June 2002 from the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South, reference 61670, on Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: I replied to the hon. Member on 11 July.

NHS Estates

Ian Cawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the annual report and accounts 2001–02 for the NHS Estates Executive Agency.

John Hutton: We have received the report and copies have today been laid in accordance with the requirements of section 5 of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921. Copies have also been placed in the Library.

Audiology Services

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 1 July 2002 to the hon. Member for Kingswood, Official Report, column 156W, on audiology services, what the new price of individual digital hearing aids purchased by the national health service is.

Jacqui Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswood (Mr. Berry) today.

Immunisation Statistics

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the NHS immunisation statistics for England for 2001–02 will be published.

Hazel Blears: It is planned to publish the statistical Bulletin, "NHS Immunisation Statistics, England: 2001–02", in September 2002. A copy of the Bulletin will be placed in the Library and will be available on the Department's website.

Saxon Square Health Centre

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the former health centre premises in Saxon Square, Christchurch, are to be sold; and if he will make a statement about the reasons for the delay in the sale.

Hazel Blears: Terms for the sale of Christchurch Health Centre to Christchurch borough council were agreed in the financial year 2001–02, and terms for its disposal were endorsed by the district valuers office.
	The borough council advised that they were unable to complete by March 2002 due to funding difficulties, but indicated their willingness to proceed in the early part of the financial year 2002–03.

Health Services (East Kent)

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps have been taken to develop (a) cottage hospitals and (b) GP surgeries in advance of the re-organisation of acute services in east Kent;
	(2)  when he intends to make a decision on the re-organisation of acute hospitals in east Kent.

Hazel Blears: Since Kent and Medway health authority made its recommendation on the reconfiguration of services at East Kent Hospitals National Health Service Trust, the local community health councils have registered objections with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health. Ministers will need to give careful consideration to these objections before deciding whether to accept the health authority's recommendation. At this time it is not possible to give an indication of when this may be. I will be visiting the trust on 18 July to hear the views of local stakeholders.
	The development of primary and secondary care services are a matter for the Kent and Medway health authority, in partnership with local primary care and NHS trusts. All four primary care trusts in east Kent are actively working to develop community services to support the reorganisation of the acute service provided by East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust.

Acute Medical Services

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the 46 hospitals in England referred to in table 1 on page 16 of the recent report from the Royal College of Physicians entitled "Isolated Acute Medical Services".

John Hutton: The report, "Isolated Acute Medical Services", was prepared by the Royal College of Physicians following collection of survey data. The Department did not take part in the research and does not have access to the survey data.

Carers

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many carers in London are over the age of (a) 60, (b) 70 and (c) 80 years.

Jacqui Smith: In 2000, there were an estimated 140,000 carers aged 60 and over in London, based on the general household survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics. A more detailed age breakdown is not available.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Air Weapons

Joyce Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the deliberations of the Firearms Consultative Committee on the use and ownership of air weapons.

Bob Ainsworth: The Government are determined to tackle the misuse of air weapons and welcome the Firearms Consultative Committee's (FCC's) views on how the problem might be dealt with. A copy of their annual report was placed in the Library on 19 March. In taking forward their recommendations for better education on safe air weapons use and enforcement of the existing law, the possible use of anti-social behaviour orders will also be explored. We will also explore with the police, the practicalities and benefits of changes to the age of ownership of air weapons and registration of ownership.

Asylum Seekers

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers he has to return asylum seekers to France who have already applied for asylum in that country.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 15 July 2002
	Section 11 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 provides for the removal of asylum claimants under standing arrangements agreed between member states. Such standing arrangements are currently provided by the Dublin Convention.
	The Dublin Convention provides an agreed framework to determine which member state is responsible for consideration of asylum claims made in the European Union (EU) where applicants have travelled between states. This includes provision for the return of an applicant to the member state where a claim for asylum has already been made.
	Section 12 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 provides for the removal of asylum claimants in circumstances other than those set out in section 11, including the return to the appropriate member state of any identified individual already recognised as a refugee by that state.

Asylum Seekers

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total value is of the civil penalties issued under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to the (a) UK and (b) foreign-based transport industry since April 2000.

Beverley Hughes: Since 3 April 2000 when the penalty provisions of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 were introduced, and as at 31 March 2002, a total of 1,429 penalty notices have been issued in respect of 7,516 clandestine entrants detected concealed in road vehicles arriving in the United Kingdom. The combined value of these penalties is £15,032,000.
	No records are held centrally distinguishing where transport companies that have received penalties are based, and reviewing each of the 1,429 individual cases to obtain this information would involve disproportionate costs. Records are kept centrally of the nationality of drivers who have been penalised. These show that a total of £3,314,000, or approximately 22 per cent., of penalties have been imposed on United Kingdom drivers and £11,492,000, or approximately 76 per cent., on foreign nationals. The remaining approximately 1.5 per cent. of penalties were imposed in respect of clandestine entrants who arrived in unaccompanied detached trailers.

Asylum Seekers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions about the possibility of a public inquiry into plans for an accommodation centre for asylum seekers near Bicester.

Beverley Hughes: None.

Correspondence

Marion Roe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Broxbourne of 12 February, 12 March, 10 April and 21 May, relating to her constituent, Mrs. Svitlana McLean of Waltham Cross.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 24 May 2002
	My noble Friend the Lord Filkin wrote to the hon. Member on 15 July 2002. I am sorry for the delay in replying.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 22 May from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ashraf Khan and Zakia Jan Lehan.

David Blunkett: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 15 July 2002.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 17 May from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. K. Mohammed Haji.

David Blunkett: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 15 July 2002.

Correspondence

James Cran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a subtantive reply will be given to Mr. M. Egdell's letter of 17 April 2002, concerning asylum seekers.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 9 July 2002
	A reply to the hon. Member's letter is currently being prepared.
	A substantive response will be sent as soon as possible.

Correspondence

Richard Page: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will respond to the letter of the hon. Member for South-West Hertfordshire of 4 February, ref 2513/2.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 2 July 2002
	I wrote to the hon. Member on 16 July 2002. I am very sorry for the delay in replying.

Special Constables

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Commissioner of the Metropolitan police about procedures designed to make it easier for special constables to enlist.

John Denham: The Commissioner has regular bilateral meetings with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary (Mr. Blunkett) in which the subject of recruitment and retention of specials has been discussed.

al-Akhbar

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the content of the newspaper al-Akhbar; and what plans he has to monitor anti-semitic propaganda.

Beverley Hughes: Allegations that articles in the al-Akhbar newspaper contain extreme anti-semitic language have been reported to the police and are being investigated.
	We are very much aware of the deep anxiety extreme language causes to the Jewish community, particularly at a time when, following the terrorist atrocities in the United States and the current difficult situation in the Middle East, it is inevitably feeling vulnerable.
	The investigation of behaviour or material that may incite racial hatred under Part III of the Public Order Act 1986 is an operational matter for the police. However, the increase in the maximum penalty for incitement to racial hatred from two to seven years' imprisonment, a change we made as part of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, is a clear indication of the seriousness with which we view this offence. I would continue to encourage anyone to report to the police any material they believe breaches the incitement to racial hatred laws.
	The police and Jewish bodies continue to work closely to safeguard Jewish people and property. We are in close touch with the Community Security Trust of the British Board of Deputies, which provides up-to-date details of anti-Semitic activity in the UK, such as assaults and criminal damage.

Cannabis

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effects on community safety and overall policing of the Lambeth cannabis relaxation pilot project; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 4 July 2002
	My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary (Mr. Blunkett) has noted carefully the emerging findings of the ongoing evaluation of the Lambeth cannabis policing pilot, whose aim is to provide police officers with more time to concentrate on more serious offences in relation to Class A drugs and other core policing business—in particular, robbery, gun crime and burglary.
	He has noted that from July 2001 to May 2002 there was a 10 per cent. increase in arrests for Class A drug trafficking offences in comparison with the 12 month period July 2000 to June 2001; that, according to a Police Foundation/MORI poll, 83 per cent. of Lambeth residents supported the cannabis scheme and 74 per cent. believed the scheme would result in more police time being redeployed to tackle serious crime; and that this is what has happened. 1,350 hours of police time, the equivalent of 1.8 officers, were saved in the first six months of the pilot.
	My right hon. Friend has also taken note of a survey of headteachers in Lambeth, conducted by the Metropolitan Police, which revealed that the policing of cannabis pilot operating in that borough has revealed no adverse impact in terms of increased prevalence (levels of use) problems or problems such as truancy.
	He recognizes that continued community confidence in the scheme and community safety depend upon police officers continuing to spend more time dealing effectively with serious crime in the borough. In particular, he expects the police to respond swiftly and effectively to any attempt to defy the law by those dealing in drugs.

Alcohol-related Crime

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the number of crimes committed that were alcohol related and their cost in each of the last five years.

Bob Ainsworth: Precise information on this subject is not available except where intoxication is an element of the definition of the offence (as with driving while intoxicated). The term alcohol-related crime potentially covers any criminal act where the perpetrator may have been drinking alcohol prior to, or at the time of, the offence. While the relevant offence may be recorded, there is at present no requirement on police forces to record whether or not the offender had been drinking.
	We know from the British Crime Survey that about 40 per cent. of all violent crime is alcohol-related, that is where the victim considers that the offender had been drinking prior to the commission of the offence. But victims are less able to make such an assessment where the offence does not involve direct contact with the offender.
	The suite of Best Value Performance Indicators for the police for 2002–03 will provide a more consistent measure of alcohol-related violence across all police forces in England and Wales, by including both a measure of violent offences committed in connection with licensed premises and a measure of violent offences committed under the influence of an intoxicating substance.
	The Government is determined to tackle the range of problems that arise from alcohol misuse, including alcohol-related crime and disorder. This includes tackling under-age drinking, recognising that young people are generally less likely than adults to differentiate between legal and illegal substances. As part of the response to this, each Drug Action Team has now drawn up a Young People's Substance Misuse Plan detailing how education, prevention and treatment activities for drugs and alcohol will be expanded according to local needs and integrated within wider provision for children and young people.

Confiscated Criminal Assets

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money was confiscated from convicted criminals in each of the last three years.

Bob Ainsworth: The receipts realised in England and Wales from confiscation orders made against convicted criminals in respect of the proceeds of their crimes for the last three years for which figures are available are £16,510,000 in 1998–99, £25,044,000 in 1999–2000, and £19,833,000 in 2000–01. The value of confiscation orders made for those years were £34,947,000, £49,146,000 and £50,031,000 respectively.

Deportees

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the financial cost involved in the removal of people being deported from the United Kingdom in each of the last three years.

Beverley Hughes: I regret that it is not possible to provide a breakdown of the specific costs requested by my hon. Friend. The provision of such information would require an examination of individual case files and would incur disproportionate cost.

Europol

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy towards extending the (a) competence and (b) executive powers of Europol.

Bob Ainsworth: The Europol Convention gives Europol the power to deal with a full range of serious international crime where an organised criminal structure is involved. This includes drug trafficking, people smuggling, crime committed in the course of terrorism, counterfeiting and money laundering. The Government would look sympathetically at any proposal to extend Europol's competence to cover other forms of serious organised international crime, provided a need had been identified, and Europol could add value.
	Europol does not have executive police powers in the member states. The Government would not support giving Europol such powers. Europol's role is to support member states own law enforcement operations by, for example facilitating the exchange of information between the member states and analysing information and intelligence.

Immigration

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures the Government have in place to keep track of immigrants who enter the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: A great many people who are not British citizens come to the United Kingdom each year. Excluding European Union citizens, approximately 13 million people were given leave to enter the United Kingdom in 2000, the last year for which data has been published.
	Foreign nationals who are granted limited leave to enter or remain for longer than three months for employment, and foreign nationals granted limited leave to enter or remain for a total period in excess of six months for any other reason are required to register with the police. Failure to do so is an offence. For this purpose, "foreign nationals" excludes European Economic Area (EEA) nationals and citizens of Commonwealth countries. This requirement does not apply to anyone who has been granted indefinite leave to enter or indefinite leave to remain.
	Arriving passengers awaiting a decision on whether or not they should be given leave to enter, passengers who have been refused entry, and people liable to deportation or to removal as an illegal entrant or under the powers contained in section 10 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 may be granted temporary admission pending a decision whether or not to grant leave or pending removal. This temporary admission may be subject to conditions as to residence, employment and reporting to the police or an immigration officer. Failure to comply with these conditions is also an offence. A person detained under Immigration Act powers may also be released on bail, again subject to conditions, which may include a requirement to report.
	The Immigration Service has seven designated reporting centres, which have been established to assist the Immigration Service in managing these reporting regimes. Alternatively a person may be required to report to a police station near their address.
	We are seeking to further improve our ability to remain in contact with persons seeking leave to remain in the United Kingdom. In particular, the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill will provide for the creation of accommodation centres for asylum seekers, and we will also seek to improve arrangements in respect of asylum seekers outside those centres. During the new induction process all asylum seekers are advised of the importance of informing the Home Office of any change of address and of the need to report as required. The Bill provides that the provision of support to asylum seekers will be conditional on their reporting as required.

Immigration

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the definition used for each category of immigrant to the UK; and if the European Union has agreed upon these categorical definitions.

Beverley Hughes: Our immigration system is formed around the concept of categories of entry, each with its own eligibility criteria, conditions and restrictions. The categories are broadly for the purposes of visiting, study, economic activity, family reunion and humanitarian protection.
	Details for each category are set out in the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules, HC395. In addition there are a number of concessions that operate outside the rules under which individuals may qualify if they meet the requisite criteria. The European Community (EC) does have competence under Title IV of the EC Treaty in the area of visas, asylum and immigration. The European Commission has brought forward a number of proposals for Community legislation on rules on admission of third country nationals to the member states, covering family reunification, admission for the purposes of employment and self-employment, the status of those who are long-term residents and the conditions in which third country nationals have the freedom to travel. None of these proposals have so far been adopted by the Council of Ministers. The United Kingdom has not exercised its right to opt in to the adoption and application of these measures. The United Kingdom has legislation which governs the rights of entry and residence of European Union (EU) citizens, as defined in the EC Treaty.

Immigration

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers entered England in the past five years, broken down by country of origin; what proportion this total represented of the total number of immigrants to enter England in these periods; and how many emigrants to England were recorded from each of the countries listed in this period.

Beverley Hughes: I regret that information on how many asylum applicants entered England in the past five years is unavailable. Regional information is available on where asylum applications in the United Kingdom were made (by port of application) but not on the entry routes of asylum seekers. In 2001 over a third (36 per cent) of applications were made at United Kingdom ports, while most applications (64 per cent) were made in country.
	Information on the numbers of asylum applications (excluding dependants) at port and in country, by nationality, for 1999 to 2001 is published on the Home Office Research Development Statistics website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html in Table 3b of the quarterly web pages "Asylum Statistics: 1st Quarter", and corresponding data for 1997 and 1998 are published in Table 2.2 of the annual statistical bulletin "Asylum Statistics 2001" (also available from the Library).
	Information on the numbers of persons granted settlement annually, by nationality, is published in Table 6.5 of the Command Paper "Control of Immigration Statistics 2000", available from the Library and from the Research Development Statistics website.

Zimbabwe

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what criteria are used to determine which asylum seekers from Zimbabwe are allowed to stay in Great Britain until the new elections in Zimbabwe; and when they will be required to return to Zimbabwe;
	(2)  what changes are planned to the criteria relating to asylum seekers from Zimbabwe.

Beverley Hughes: Applications for asylum from people from Zimbabwe are considered on their individual merits, in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 United Nations' Refugee Convention.
	On 15 January, we announced a temporary suspension of returns of unsuccessful asylum applicants to Zimbabwe. We will resume returns only when we are satisfied that it is safe to do so. We are monitoring events in the aftermath of the Zimbabwe presidential election and other developments in the country situation. A decision on resumption of returns will be made when we have properly assessed the risks to returnees. That process is under way.

Time Limited Development Fund

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the assessment of applications for grants from the Time Limited Development Fund will be completed.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 11 July 2002
	My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary (Mr. Blunkett) announced the allocation of grants to organisations successful under the Time Limited Development Fund at the re-launch of the Home Office Active Community Unit on 29 May this year. 113 projects in deprived areas of England will benefit from £13.5 million grant aid over the next three years.

Volunteering Projects

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown by organisation of the annual grants for 2001–02 that have been paid to voluntary and community organisations pursuing volunteering projects.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 11 July 2002
	The requested information is provided in the table:
	
		£ 
		
			 Organisation Annual grant 
		
		
			 African Family Support Centre 22,195 
			 Age Concern 38,000 
			 Age Concern Ledbury and District 9,918 
			 Alzheimer's Society 5,208 
			 Big Brothers and Sisters 200,000 
			 Bishop Creighton House 15,273 
			 Bolton Lads and Girls Club 27,775 
			 Business in the Community 258,362 
			 Carlisle Mencap 7,320 
			 Chance (UK) Ltd. 20,518 
			 Children's Society 24,500 
			 Community Service Volunteers—Make a Difference Day 60,000 
			 Community Service Volunteers—Media-Community Action Desks 300,000 
			 County of Northampton Council on Addiction 29,000 
			 Dines Green Streets Ahead 15,929 
			
			 Enfield Business Education Partnership 2,500 
			 Experience Corps 5,292,000 
			 Family Service Units 15,462 
			 Focus Mentoring 27,381 
			 Focus—Interaction Volunteer Development Initiative 69,000 
			 Foyer 50,000 
			 Fun in Action (FUN) for Children 12,000 
			 Halton Voluntary Action 289,286 
			 Help and Care 55,000 
			 Help the Aged 25,032 
			 Home-Start Bournemouth 12,250 
			 Home-Start Nottingham 16,753 
			 Home-Start Sittingbourne and Sheppey 6,219 
			 Home-Start Stoke-on-Trent 19,543 
			 Home-Start Wisbech 12,000 
			 Lambeth Wellcare 8,378 
			 Media Trust—Teletext 50,000 
			 Media Trust—Community Channel 190,000 
			 Media Trust—New Year New You 111,000 
			 Media Trust—Voluntary Matters 180,000 
			 Mersey Volunteer Bureau 50,000 
			 MSF Union 50,000 
			 National Association for Care and Resettlement of Offenders— Walsall 32,009 
			 National Association of Volunteer Bureaux—Media Skills 100,000 
			 National Centre for Volunteering 8,000 
			 National Centre for Volunteering—Diversity Challenge Website 16,215 
			 National Centre for Volunteering—IYV 2001 Consortium 127,711 
			 National Centre for Volunteering—IYV 'Image Bank' 50,000 
			 National Centre for Volunteering—Volunteering Convention 14,000 
			 National Centre for Volunteering—Volunteering Supplement 28,000 
			 National Mentoring Network: A Plan to Equality 430,000 
			 National Trust—Sharing the Caring 45,752 
			 National Trust 26,542 
			 National Youth Agency—Philip Lawrence Awards 100,000 
			 North East Council on Addictions Services Ltd. 25,223 
			 North Tyneside Voluntary Organisations Development Agency 270,000 
			 Northampton Volunteer Bureau 32,000 
			 Northorpe Hall Trust 15,954 
			 One to One Youth Befriending 27,846 
			 Pabulum 23,330 
			 PACT Community Projects 15,091 
			 RAMP—The Renewal Programme 15,857 
			 Ravidassia Community Centre 10,000 
			 Retired Executives Action Clearing House 22,725 
			 Regional Interactive Safety Centre 19,000 
			 Routes to Volunteering in Havering 25,000 
			 Royal National Institute for Deaf People 52,654 
			 Royal Philanthropic Society Rainer 47,223 
			 Salford Business Education Partnership 90,000 
			 Sandwell Volunteer Bureau 60,928 
			 SCOPE—South West 27,000 
			 SCOPE—North West 22,356 
			 Second City, Second Chance 12,200 
			 SENSE 5,250 
			 SKILL 8,672 
			 Somerset Youth Voluntary Network 35,000 
			 South Northants Volunteer Bureau 36,000 
			 SOVA 26,793 
			 Swindon Education Business Partnership 24,900 
			 Terrence Higgins Trust 13,859 
			 The Befriending Network 15,000 
			 The King's Cross Project 12,946 
			 The Leonard Cheshire Foundation 34,285 
			 The London Connection 5,798 
			 Those on the Margins of Society 40,000 
			 TimeBank 710,000 
			 Voluntary Action Camden 227,690 
			 Voluntary Action Luton 250,456 
			 Voluntary Action Sheffield—Doing it Locally Campaign 39,928 
			 Whitbread Volunteer Action Awards 60,000 
			 Youthnet—Developing Diversity Project 134,508 
			 Youthnet—Do It Database 29,701 
			  
			 Total 11,081,204

Private Office Guidelines

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines his private office operates under when dealing with requests from hon. Members on exceptional, urgent and compassionate cases.

Beverley Hughes: My predecessor, my right hon. and noble Friend, Lord Rooker, wrote to hon. Members on 15 May 2002 setting out how their representations in relation to immigration cases would be dealt with. In exceptional, urgent and compassionate cases, private office staff will intervene directly and act according to the nature of the case to try and seek an urgent resolution.
	However, due to the nature of exceptional, urgent and compassionate cases, there are no specific guidelines which private office staff follow. Each case is considered separately, dependent on its individual circumstances. Private office staff liaise with the relevant departmental officials to obtain the necessary information to enable the Minister to make an informed decision.

Asylum (Iraqis)

Jon Owen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government's policy is regarding (a) Iraqi Kurds seeking asylum and (b) removals in the event of their claims being unsuccessful; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The Government recognise that there may be certain people from northern Iraq who are in need of international protection under the terms of the 1951 United Nations convention relating to the status of refugees. However, there are also some asylum seekers from that region who, after careful consideration of their application, do not appear to meet the criteria set out in the convention. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner is on record saying that it would not object to the return to northern Iraq of asylum seekers from that area who have been found, through fair and objective procedures, not to be in need of international protection.
	Iraqi citizens of Kurdish origin are able to return voluntarily to northern Iraq. We are exploring the options for enforcing returns to northern Iraq using routes that will not cross territory controlled by the Government in Baghdad. We hope to be in a position to begin enforced returns shortly.

Pig-to-Primate Organ Transplant

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the reasons behind the decision not to allow a judicial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding pig-to- primate organ transplant research by Imutran Limited at Huntingdon Life Sciences.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 11 July 2002
	Home Office Ministers considered the matter very carefully, but concluded that the issues, including those regarding compliance with the authorities granted to Imutran Limited under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 for its xenotransplantation research programme, did not merit such an inquiry. Nor were they considered to justify any other form of special investigation. Instead, in November 2000, the then Home Secretary (Mr. Straw) asked the Chief Inspector of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate to carry out a routine assessment of compliance with the relevant authorities issued to Imutran Limited under the 1986 Act. The Chief Inspector's report, which covered five years work, was published on 13 July 2001 and copies placed in the Library. It confirmed that the general level of compliance was good and identified no new factors justifying a judicial inquiry.

Passport Control (Biometric Techniques)

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 26 June 2002, Official Report, column 886, on the meeting with the French Interior Minister, if he will make a statement on the use of biometric techniques in establishing more secure methods of passport control.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 15 July 2002
	The use of biometric techniques to link a travel document to the rightful holder has long been recognised as a policy goal by passport issuing authorities around the world. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is developing a biometric standard for use in machine readable travel documents to ensure global interoperability. The United Kingdom (UK) is supporting the work of ICAO in establishing this standard. In addition the UK Passport Service is investigating ways to use biometrics information in UK passports and in passport cards as the latter are developed; and in its efforts to counter fraud.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last visited the Public Inquiry Office of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate.

Beverley Hughes: My right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary (Mr. Blunkett) visited the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's Public Inquiry Office in Croydon on 26 June 2001.
	My noble Friend, (Lord Rooker), the former Minister for Immigration also visited the Public Inquiry Office, as did I, on 20 June 2002.

Foreign Nationals (Domestic Violence Provisions)

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the provisions relating to domestic violence have been applied to allow a foreign national who has married a UK citizen to remain in the UK despite the break-up of that marriage due to domestic violence.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 15 July 2002
	Up to the end of 2000, the latest available data from case records, 63 applicants under the domestic violence concession have been granted settlement.

Internet (Child Protection)

Lawrie Quinn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times the Task Force on Child Protection on the Internet has met since it was set up last year; what progress has been made; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The then Home Secretary (Mr. Straw) announced the establishment of the Task Force on Child Protection on the Internet on 9 May 2001. Since then, the full Task Force has met four times and most recently on 3 July 2002. The work of the Task Force has been taken forward by a number of Sub Groups which have met regularly and have been looking at the criminal law, law enforcement, child protection measures, public awareness, training and further developing co-operation between the industry and others on reporting and handling child protection issues.
	Members of the respective Sub Groups have given freely of their time to support the aim we set last year: to make the United Kingdom the best and safest place in the world for children to use the internet, and to help protect children the world over from abuse fuelled by criminal misuse of new technologies.
	The Task Force has developed, run and now evaluated a successful national awareness campaign. Research had confirmed two key gaps: first, that parents are ill-informed about their children's use of the internet and chat rooms, and second that young people give out their personal details without considering the consequences. Two campaigns were designed, one to target 14 to 16-year-olds and the other parents/carers of 11 to 13-year-olds. The media used included press advertising, cinema, radio, on-line and viral marketing from December 2001 until spring 2002. Independent evaluation of the campaigns shows significantly improved awareness of the key messages in both target audiences. The Task Force is now considering that evaluation and how to build on the momentum created.
	The Task Force has also developed proposals for a criminal offence to tackle the "grooming" of children by paedophiles online or offline. This is intended to allow prosecution at an early stage when children are being groomed, before an existing sexual offence has been committed. In addition, the proposals include the creation of a new civil protection order relating to behaviour towards a child for an illegal or harmful sexual purpose.
	Practical online child protection measures have been drawn up in a draft good practice document for service providers which deals with chat, instant messaging and web services. These encourage, among other things, clear and accessible safety messages and advice and user-friendly ways of reporting abuse. The drafts are being considered by the wider industry through the Internet Service Providers' Association (ISPA) and the London Internet Exchange (LINX).
	Work is also in hand to develop a shared matrix for reporting and handling child protection issues, and developing good practice for dealing with law enforcement requests for information from Internet Service Providers (ISPs). This is being taken forward, with the oversight of the Task Force, by the Internet Crime Forum.
	The Task Force will continue to work in partnership with the industry to: consider the extent to which the criminal law currently covers unsuitable material being sent to children and all forms of indecent representations of children; assess the new challenges posed by development of 3G mobile phones; and develop basic training materials for child protection staff on children's internet use.
	In parallel with the Task Force, the United Kingdom has played a leading role in the development of a G8 strategy for protecting children from sexual exploitation on the internet. The strategy, which is not yet finalised, will cover issues such as: victim identification; intelligence gathering and sharing; location of suspects; enforcement tools and training; awareness building and prevention; and police working with industry and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Forensic Science Service

Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will lay before Parliament the annual report for the Forensic Science Service.

John Denham: Copies of the Forensic Science Service's (FSS) Annual Report and Accounts for 2001–02 have today been laid before Parliament.
	Performance against Agency targets 2001–02
	The FSS met seven of its 10 targets and concluded the financial year with a strong performance.
	Financial targets
	A 12.9 per cent. return on capital employed was produced against a target of 10 per cent.
	A three-year rolling efficiency gain of 10 per cent. was achieved against a target of 10 per cent.
	Service Delivery
	An average turnaround time of 35 days was achieved against a target of 26 days.
	94 per cent., 92 per cent. and 90 per cent. of agreed dates were achieved in urgent, critical and persistent young offender cases (respectively) against targets of 97 per cent., 97 per cent. and 100 per cent.
	89 per cent. of agreed delivery dates in all categories were achieved against a target of 93 per cent.
	Service level agreements were put into place with 92 per cent. of police forces—against a target of 90 per cent.
	A biennial customer satisfaction survey was conducted.
	A baseline overall measure for putting into place routine and robust customer satisfaction measurement processes based on transactional approach, and for demonstrating year on year improvements in police (customer) satisfaction was established.
	External quality accreditation to ISO standards was maintained—and extended.
	Application for 50 per cent. of reporting officers for accreditation to the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners, where appropriate, was achieved.
	The targets for 2002–03, the agency's fourth year of trading fund, are:
	Finance:
	Target: a 10 per cent. return on capital employed.
	Target: a 10 per cent. efficiency gain (over three years).
	Service delivery:
	Target: a five per cent. increase in transactional index of customer satisfaction (baseline 100 per cent).
	Target: agreements on service levels implemented with 92 per cent. of police forces.
	Target: maintain quality accreditation.
	Target: meet dispatch dates in 98 per cent. of urgent and critical cases and 99 per cent. in persistent young offenders cases.
	Target: meet dispatch dates in 93 per cent. of all categories of cases.
	Target: achieve a 70 calendar day turnaround time in 90 per cent. of standard jobs (violent and volume crime cases) by the year end, demonstrating improvements through the year.
	Target: submit applications for accreditation to the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners (CRFP) of 100 per cent. of reporting officers in areas where the CRFP is registering people.

Dungavel Detention Centre

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further renovations are planned to transform Dungavel detention centre into a removal centre; what the estimated cost is; and from which budget line such renovation costs will be met.

Beverley Hughes: There are no physical alterations needed to transform Dungavel House from a detention to a removal centre. Any future proposals to alter the building will be considered and if found to be economically advantageous the costs will be met by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND).

EU Committees (Scottish Executive Representation)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the EU Advisory Committee on the Free Movement of Workers is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	The EU Advisory Committee on the Free Movement of Workers is next due to meet in November 2002 (date to be set by the European Commission). Representatives of the Scottish Executive have not been and are not currently members of this committee. The advisory committee is composed of six members for each member state of the European Union, two of whom represent the Government (normally only one representative attends), two the trade unions and two the employers' associations, plus one substitute member for each of these. The committee and its composition were established by regulation (EEC) No. 1612/68.

EU Committees (Scottish Executive Representation)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the EU Technical Committee for the Implementation of Regulations concerning the Free Movement of Workers is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	The EU Technical Committee for the Implementation of Regulations concerning the Free Movement of Workers is next due to meet in November 2002 (date to be set by the European Commission). Representatives of the Scottish Executive have not been and are not currently members of this committee. The advisory committee is composed of one member for each member state of the European Union, plus one substitute member. The committee and its composition were established by regulation (EEC) No. 1612/68.

EU Committees (Scottish Executive Representation)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when (a) the EU Advisory Committee on Social Security for Migrant Workers and (b) its working parties are next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	The EU Advisory Committee on Social Security for Migrant Workers is next due to meet on 2 October 2002. Representatives of the Scottish Executive have not been and are not currently members of this committee. UK representation consists of two officials from the Department for Work and Pensions (normally only one attends), three trade union representatives and three employers' representatives (the latter two includes substitute members). The committee and its composition were established by regulation (EEC) No. 1408/71.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Computers

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures are (a) in place and (b) under discussion in his Department in order to ensure compliance with the WEE Directive.

Christopher Leslie: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Industry, Energy and Environment, on 12 June 2002, Official Report, column 1266W.

Sprinkler Systems

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many sprinklers were installed in properties owned by local authorities last year; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Sprinkler Systems

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the Government's policy is on encouraging the installation of sprinkler systems in (a) local authority owned houses and (b) new build houses; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The information is as follows:
	(a) The Government have no formal role in encouraging local authorities to install sprinkler systems. It is a matter for local consideration, although authorities will be assisted by the proposed introduction of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). This will provide a risk based approach to the implementation of safety measures in dwellings. The HHSRS provides an analysis of risk from 24 broad hazards, including hazards from fire, and of the counter-measures to address those risks. Sprinklers are listed as one of the measures to promote fire safety.
	(b) Although there are currently no plans to revise the building regulations to include provisions for domestic sprinkler systems into new build houses, we are keeping this under review in the light of emerging standards and improvements in sprinkler technology. We have recently let two research contracts to look at the whole issue of residential and domestic sprinklers, including an assessment of their actual effectiveness and the undertaking of a regulatory impact assessment to consider their costs and benefits. The results and conclusions of this work should be available around the end of 2003.
	We will need to await the findings of the research work referred to above, before we are in a position to consider more fully if the provision of residential sprinklers should be a requirement of the building regulations.

Local Taxation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans the Government have to introduce forms of local taxation in addition to the council tax; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The Government's White Paper "Strong Local Leadership—Quality Public Services" detailed our scheme for Business Improvement Districts (BIDS). Under a BID, projects of benefit to the local community will be funded by a levy on the business rate paid by local businesses. Before a BID can be established a majority of the ratepayers liable for the levy will need to have voted in favour. The draft Local Government Bill published on 12 June contains the necessary primary legislation.
	Apart from the BIDs levy, the Government have no plans to introduce other forms of local taxation in addition to the council tax.
	We said in the White Paper that once some further analysis had been done, we would establish a high-level working group, involving Ministers and senior figures from local government, to look at all the aspects of the balance of local government funding, reviewing the evidence and looking at reform options. We intend to make an announcement regarding this review in due course.

Local Government Bill

Don Foster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 25 June 2002, Official Report, column 820W, on the draft local government Bill, if councils have been informed of (a) the consultation and (b) the availability of paper copies.

Nick Raynsford: We have ensured that the launch of the Local Government Bill was widely publicised. Individual councils were informed of the consultation via local government association bulletins and "Info4Local". "Info4Local" is a one-stop portal for local authorities to get quick and easy access to information on the websites of Government Departments, and we used its e-mail service to send out information on the draft Bill as soon as it was published. Paper copies were also sent to key representative organisations and have been made available to others on request. The consultation document itself contains details on how to obtain paper copies.

Data Services

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what new data services, broken down by (a) sex, (b) race, (c) disability and (d) age have been commissioned by his Department since it was created.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Romsey on 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 83W. I am not aware of any new data series being commissioned since the establishment of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Equal Treatment

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  whether he has established a baseline for policy appraisal; against which to measure progress on equal treatment; and what progress has been achieved.
	(2)  if he will list the subjects of the gender impact assessments drawn up by his Department, indicating in each case whether the outcome has been (a) put out to consultation and (b) published.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her on 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 83W.

Regeneration

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which Minister in his Department has responsibility for regeneration; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Deputy Prime Minister has decided that for the time being Ministers in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will take on the portfolios of their predecessors. This means that Lord Rooker, Minister of State and I, Parliamentary Under-Secretary have responsibility for regeneration issues.

Civil Servants

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many civil servants there are in his Department, broken down by pay band; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Central) (ODPM(C)) employs approximately 4,216 staff. This figure is composed of staff working on policy areas and an estimate of 50 per cent. of the support staff who worked for the former Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR). This figure may change when restructuring is complete and final decisions have been taken on whether support staff are allocated to ODPM(C) or Department for Transport (DfT). The table shows these staff split by pay band.
	
		
			 Band OPCM (C) 
		
		
			 SCS 75 
			 Band 7 37 
			 Band 6 264 
			 Band 5 204 
			 Band 4 355 
			 Band 3 383 
			 Band 2 274 
			 Band 1 44 
			 Secretarial 78 
			  
			 Total 1,714 
		
	
	The ODPM also includes Government office staff and the following table shows the grade breakdown of these staff.
	
		
			 Band Total 
		
		
			 SCS 54 
			 Band 7 30 
			 Band 6 212 
			 Band 5 225 
			 Band 4 542 
			 Band 3 635 
			 Band 2 489 
			 Band 1 86 
			 Secretarial 87 
			  
			 Total 2,360 
		
	
	Finally ODPM also includes 142 staff who have transferred across from the Cabinet Office. A breakdown by pay band is not yet available for these staff.

Housing

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the adequacy of housing supply for the next 10 to 15 years; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Annual rates of housing provision to be kept under regular review are established through regional planning guidance and the spatial strategy it sets out. We expect local authorities to provide sufficient housing land to meet this housing provision. A central feature of "plan, monitor and manage" is the process of review and adjustment if indicators show that more or less housing is needed. This should occur as a minimum every five years, and sooner if there are signs of under or over provision.

Housing

Joan Walley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will take into account low cost housing in North Staffordshire when assessing the need for affordable housing for key public sector workers in (a) the West Midlands, (b) Cheshire and (c) South Manchester; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: In each region the Government Office and the Housing Corporation produce a Regional Housing Statement working closely with local and regional stakeholders including local authorities and housing associations. This highlights key housing issues and pressures in each region and helps to identify regional priorities. The corporation also produces a Regional Investment Strategy which contains priorities for investment in that region. These priorities are also discussed with local and regional stakeholders.

Multiple Occupation Houses (Deaths)

Don Foster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many deaths there have been in houses of multiple occupation in each of the last five years for which records are available, broken down by the causes of death; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Priority Development Areas

Theresa May: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the Government's priority development areas.

Tony McNulty: Priority areas for development are identified in Regional Planning Guidance issued by the Deputy Prime Minister, in the draft London Plan published by the Mayor and in development plans adopted by local planning authorities.

Overseas Visits

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the overseas trips on departmental business that have been undertaken in each of the last five years by officials in his Department; and what the (a) cost, (b) purpose and (c) result was in each case.

John Prescott: The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Homelessness (Local Authority Powers)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what statutory powers local authorities possess to (a) refuse housing to, (b) refuse services to and (c) return to their place of origin rough sleepers and homeless people.

Tony McNulty: Authorities cannot refuse to secure accommodation or provide advice and assistance, as appropriate, to applicants where this is required as a result of a specific duty being owed to them under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996. Rough sleepers or homeless people who apply to a housing authority for accommodation or advice and assistance must be treated in the same way as all other applicants.
	Authorities do not have a power to return homeless people or rough sleepers to another area, but where an authority decide that an applicant is owed the main homelessness duty and (a) he or she does not have a local connection with the area of the authority and (b) does have one with the area of another authority, the case may be referred to that other authority.

Local Government Finance

Iain Coleman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the advantages of the system of the area cost adjustments within the local government finance system;
	(2)  what plans he has to ensure that regional wage differentials are reflected in the local government finance system.

Christopher Leslie: As we set out in the Green Paper, "Modernising Local Government Finance", we believe that the case for recognising that pay levels vary across the country is clear-cut. There will therefore continue to be an area cost adjustment in the new local government finance system that we intend to introduce in 2003–04.
	We do, however, recognise that how the adjustment is calculated is difficult and contentious. That is why the formula grant distribution consultation paper we published on 8 July includes a range of alternative options on which we are inviting comments. We will be carefully considering the views that are put to us during the consultation period before taking final decisions on the best way forward.

Local Government Finance

Iain Coleman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what the average SSA per head of population for local services after discounting area cost adjustment is in each (a) metropolitan area, (b) Government office region and (c) local authority;
	(2)  what the average SSA per head of population for local services is in each (a) metropolitan area, (b) Government office by area and (c) local authority.

Christopher Leslie: The average 2002–03 SSA per head of population, using the mid-2000 population estimates, for each metropolitan area is:
	
		£ 
		
			 Metropolitan area SSA per head 
		
		
			 Greater Manchester 1,061 
			 Merseyside 1,141 
			 South Yorkshire 1,027 
			
			 Tyne and Wear 869 
			 West Midlands 1,114 
			 West Yorkshire 1,015 
		
	
	The area cost adjustment (ACA) factor for each of the metropolitan areas is 1,000, and hence the ACA contribution for each of these areas is zero. The average 2002–03 SSA per head of population, excluding the ACA contribution is, therefore, the same as that in the table.
	The average 2002–03 SSA per head of population, both including and excluding the ACA contribution, for each Government office area is:
	
		£ 
		
			  SSA per head 
			 Government office Including the ACA contribution Excluding the ACA contribution 
		
		
			 South-west 876 876 
			 South-east 892 833 
			 London 1,265 1,085 
			 Eastern 909 865 
			 East Midlands 906 906 
			 West Midlands 989 989 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 992 992 
			 North-east 1,043 1,043 
			 North-west 1,027 1,027 
		
	
	A table showing the 2002–03 SSA per head, both including and excluding the ACA contribution, for each local authority has been placed in the Library of the House.

Local Government Finance

Iain Coleman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to impose transitional arrangements on the implementation of changes to the local government finance system; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: As we announced in the local government White Paper "Strong Local Leadership—Quality Public Services", we will continue to operate the floors and ceilings scheme to limit changes in grant to councils in any one year. Precise details of our proposals for the scheme for 2003–04 will be announced in the provisional local government finance settlement around the end of November 2002.

Local Government Finance

Gerry Steinberg: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many local authorities spent (a) at or below SSA levels and (b) above SSA levels in each of the last three years.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Christopher Leslie: In 1998–99, 78 out of 433 authorities incurred a Net Revenue Expenditure at or below SSA. In 1999–2000 there were 52 and in 2001–01 there were 54.
	SSA includes Police Grant in the case of police authorities and, in 2000–01, General GLA grant in the case of the Greater London Authority.

Local Government Finance

John Gummer: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to ensure that the new grant formula that will replace SSA will be fairer and simpler and address the needs of all classes of authority.

Nick Raynsford: On 8 July, we published a consultation paper setting out a number of options for reforming the distribution system for general revenue grants. One of the aims of the consultation paper is to make the system simpler overall, but it must be recognised that the formula will never be completely simple.
	Central and local Government have worked together to develop the options contained in the consultation paper to make the system fairer for all local authorities. Decisions on the future funding system will be taken only after all consultation responses have been fully considered.

Local Government Finance

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on how many occasions a local authority has put into the public domain the confidential draft of the local authority's corporate governance inspection by the Audit Commission prior to publication; and what action he intends to take against such local authorities.

Christopher Leslie: Of the corporate governance inspections that have been carried out to date four reports have come into the public domain prior to publication. Such premature disclosure does not help authorities to derive full benefit from inspections. The Audit Commission strongly advises local authority officers and members not to reveal the contents of draft reports prior to an agreed release date. Confidential drafts are provided in order to allow full discussion and deliberation of the recommendations within the council; and between the council and the inspectors, and the incorporation of any subsequent changes to the report before publication of a final report. The detailed management of these arrangements is a matter for the Audit Commission and the authority concerned.

Millennium Dome

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2002, Official Report, column 820W, on the Millennium Dome, if he will (a) commission from Jones Lange Lasalle and (b) publish estimates of the value of the Millennium Dome site to Meridian Delta Ltd. (i) with and (ii) without the Dome.

Tony McNulty: English Partnerships, with professional advice from Jones Lang Lasalle, undertook full assessments of the value of the deal with Meridian Delta Ltd. and Anschutz Entertainment Group, and of alternative development scenarios with and without the Dome.
	The net present value of the deal, assuming the full scheme is developed, is around £240 million. This is higher than both the estimated value of the site developed under alternative development scenarios with the Dome, and the estimated value of the site developed without the Dome. Our professional advice was that the establishment of a successful and iconic venue enhances the value of the rest of the development.
	Precise valuations are commercially confidential, in order not to compromise the joint venture arrangements, negotiations between the joint venture and third parties, and the ability of English Partnerships to secure value for money through their commercial negotiations.
	The National Audit Office is examining the sale process, including valuations and value for money assessments, and will report to Parliament in due course.

"Our Towns and Cities: The Future"

Don Foster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made towards the goal in section 4.10 of the DETR document, "Our Towns and Cities: The Future", on 100 per cent. capital allowances for creating flats over shops for letting.

Tony McNulty: We have introduced 100 per cent. capital allowances for owners and occupiers to cover the costs of creating flats over shops and similar commercial premises for letting. This measure was introduced in the 2001 Budget and has been available since May 2001. The Government are committed to undertaking a comprehensive evaluation of all the fiscal measures in the urban White Paper.

"Our Towns and Cities: The Future"

Don Foster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made towards the goal in section 4.10 of the DETR document, "Our Towns and Cities: The Future", to bring about VAT reforms to encourage conversion of properties for residential use.

Tony McNulty: We have reduced VAT to 5 per cent. on the cost of conversions of residential property into residential communal homes, such as care homes and homes with multiple occupation, and on the cost of renovating residential properties that have been empty for three years or longer. A similar VAT reduction on the cost of converting residential properties, which have been empty for three years of more, into a different number of dwellings has been introduced. An adjustment has also been made to the zero rate of VAT to provide relief for the sale of renovated houses that have been empty for 10 years or more.
	The measures above were introduced in the 2001 Budget. The reduction in VAT on residential conversions has been available since May 2001 and the relief from VAT on the sale of renovated homes has been available since August 2001. The Government are committed to undertaking a comprehensive evaluation of all the fiscal measures included in the urban White Paper.

"Our Towns and Cities: The Future"

Don Foster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made towards the goal in section 4.10 of the DETR document, "Our Towns and Cities: The Future", on accelerated payable tax credits for cleaning contaminated land.

Tony McNulty: We have introduced an accelerated payable 150 per cent. tax credit on qualifying expenditure incurred on or after 11 May 2001 on cleaning-up contaminated land ('land remediation expenditure') for companies that acquire contaminated land for the purposes of a trade or schedule A letting business. The tax credit is intended to make the development of contaminated sites more viable, helping to tackle the legacy of previous industrial usage and reducing pressure to develop greenfield sites. This measure was introduced in the 2001 Budget and has been available since May 2001.
	The Government are committed to undertaking a comprehensive evaluation of all the fiscal measures in the urban White Paper.

Open Spaces

Don Foster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made towards the introduction of the Green Flag Award scheme for recognising excellence in local parks, play areas and open spaces; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Work to further develop the Green Flag Award scheme began on 1 April 2001. This has already led to an increase in the number of awards from 50 in 2000 to 81 this year. A new award category—the Green Pennant—was introduced in May 2002 to recognise the achievements of community managed and maintained spaces, and a further award category is being developed to recognise excellence in play space provision.

Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities Programme

Don Foster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much money has been provided for the New Opportunities Fund Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities Programme since its establishment.

Kim Howells: I have been asked to reply.
	The New Opportunities Fund was directed by the Government to distribute £125 million to green spaces and sustainable communities by 2002. So far more than £30 million has been awarded to over 900 projects.

Rough Sleepers

David Laws: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people were sleeping rough in each year from 1998.

Tony McNulty: On 3 December 2001, the Prime Minister announced that the Rough Sleepers Unit had met its target to reduce rough sleeping by at least two thirds by 2002. The latest figures on the number of people sleeping rough since June 1998 are as follows:
	
		
			  England Reduction (per cent.) 
		
		
			 June 1998 1,851 — 
			 June 1999 1,633 11.8 
			 June 2000 1,180 36.3 
			 June 2001 703 62.0 
			 November 2001 532 71.3 
		
	
	The new Homelessness Directorate within my Department brings together the Rough Sleepers Unit, the Bed and Breakfast Unit and a new team to advise local authorities on the development of strategies to tackle homelessness. The Directorate will continue to work on sustaining the two-thirds reduction in rough sleeping.

Public Inquiries

Julian Lewis: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance his Department issues to the Planning Inspectorate in respect of the (a) starting dates for major public inquiries and (b) avoidance of overlapping dates for separate major public inquiries affecting the same objectors.

Tony McNulty: There is no specific guidance issued by the Department to the Planning Inspectorate for:
	(a) the start date for inquiries. The Inspectorate is in general expected to handle cases as quickly as possible and statutory rules require most inquiries to start within 22 weeks of the announcement of the intention to hold them;
	(b) the avoidance of overlapping dates for separate major public inquiries affecting the same objectors. The Inspectorate takes account of potential overlaps: where they occur, programmes for the inquiries concerned can usually be arranged to avoid problems for objectors.

Local Elections

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which Government Minister is responsible for the administration of local elections.

Nick Raynsford: As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House in his answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Richard Burden) on 2 July 2002, Official Report, column 197W, ministerial responsibility for policy, including for reform and modernisation, on elections to English, and to the extent issues are not devolved Welsh, councils, the Greater London Authority, and any future English regional assembly is for my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister.

Software

Brian White: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is towards using open source software; and what percentage is used in his Department.

Christopher Leslie: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister sets out the specific business requirements that software is required to meet. Suppliers are free to propose open source software to meet these requirements.
	The Department's use of open source software will follow the Government's policy when published, currently planned for summer 2002. The draft policy may be viewed at http://www.govtalk.gov.uk/rfc/rfc–document.asp?docnum=429.
	At present, less than 1 per cent. of the Office's software is open source.

Council Tax Bands

Iain Coleman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many and what percentage of properties are in council tax Band F and above, broken down by (a) RSLs and (b) local authority properties in (i) London and (ii) England.

Christopher Leslie: Information on the number of properties in each council tax band is shown on the valuation list compiled by the Valuation Office Agency. The number and percentage of properties in council tax Band F and above, as at 26 March 2002, for London and England is shown in the table. A breakdown by RSLs or local authority properties is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  London England 
		
		
			 Number of properties in Band F and above 486,089 1,932,365 
			 Total number of properties 3,125,684 21,436,841 
			 Number of properties in Band F and above as a percentage of the total number of properties 15.6 9.0

Council Tax Bands

Iain Coleman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many and what percentage of properties are in each council tax band in (a) England and (b) each Government office region.

Christopher Leslie: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the hon. Member for Southampton, Test (Dr. Whitehead) on 25 April 2002, Official Report, column 397W.

Fire Service (Radio Communications)

Geraint Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if the Government's proposed revised national strategy for the replacement of the fire services main scheme radio system will (a) provide and (b) fund a solution which will meet the user requirements determined by the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority.

Christopher Leslie: The Government have undertaken to fully fund the new national procurement strategy for the fire service radio system. This work will be taken forward in close co-operation with fire authorities, including the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority.

Alconbury Airfield

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the timetable is for his decision on the Planning Inspectorate's report concerning the proposed development at Alconbury airfield, Cambridgeshire.

Tony McNulty: The Planning Inspectorate has advised that it expects to send the report to the Deputy Prime Minister towards the end of August. Until we have received and considered the report, I cannot say when the decision on the appeal might be made.

Ordnance Survey

Brian White: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what performance targets have been set for the Ordnance Survey Executive Agency for the financial year 2002–03.

Tony McNulty: The following performance targets have been set for Ordnance Survey for 2002–03:
	To achieve revenue target of £98.0 million (excluding the National Interest Mapping Service Agreement)
	To achieve an efficiency gain of 6 per cent. over the period April 2000 to March 2004. The target for 2002–03 is 4.5 per cent. against the baseline of 1999–2000.
	To complete national coverage of the OS Explorer Map series by 31 March 2003, and for our principal national paper map series, we will issue full up-to-date revisions:
	
		Years 
		
			  On average not more than every and, no longer than every 
		
		
			 Explorer May (403 sheets) 2.5 6.5 
			 OS Landranger Map (204 sheets) 3 6 
		
	
	To increase the number of users of Ordnance Survey websites by 35 per cent.
	To represent 99.5 per cent. of significant real world features in the database within six months of completion.
	To reduce the carbon emissions from the Ordnance Survey Headquarters building by at least 1 per cent. year-on-year.
	These targets reflect Ordnance Survey's continuing commitment to customers and to improved value for money for all its stakeholders.

Asylum Seekers

Iain Coleman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many asylum seekers are supported by (a) each local authority and (b) local authorities in each Government office region.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	From the grant claims sent to the Home Office by local authorities, as at September 2001, 26,800 single adult asylum seekers and 14,600 families were supported by local authorities. Figures including dependants are not available.
	Of these cases, the following number were supported by each local authority.
	
		
			   Total number of:  
			 Local authority(9) Single adults(10) Families(10) 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 490 470 
			 Barnet(11) 260 380 
			 Barnsley 50 10 
			 Bath and North East Somerset * * 
			 Bedfordshire 210 50 
			 Bexley(11) 120 60 
			 Birmingham 360 150 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 10 * 
			 Blackpool 20 * 
			 Blaenau Gwent County 0 0 
			 Bolton Metro 20 10 
			 Bournemouth 120 30 
			 Bracknell Forest * * 
			 Bradford 30 20 
			 Brent(11) 330 450 
			 Bridgend County 0 0 
			 Brighton and Hove 170 20 
			 Bristol City 160 40 
			 Bromley(11) 80 100 
			 Buckinghamshire 40 10 
			 Bury 10 10 
			 Caerphilly County * 0 
			 Calderdale 20 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 110 30 
			 Camden(11) 280 270 
			 Cardiff 40 20 
			 Carmarthenshire 0 0 
			 Ceredigion CC * 0 
			 Cheshire 20 10 
			 City of Newcastle 160 40 
			 Conwy CBC 0 0 
			 Cornwall * * 
			 Corporation of London(11) 100 30 
			 Coventry 50 20 
			 Croydon(11) 70 160 
			 Cumbria * 0 
			 Cyngor Gwynedd Council 0 0 
			 Darlington 0 0 
			 Denbighshire County 0 0 
			 Derby 100 20 
			 Derbyshire * 0 
			 Devon 10 0 
			
			 Doncaster 10 10 
			 Dorset 40 * 
			 Dudley 20 10 
			 Durham 0 0 
			 Ealing(11) 150 190 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 10 0 
			 East Sussex 160 20 
			 Enfield(11) 420 470 
			 Essex 140 40 
			 Flintshire * 0 
			 Gateshead 40 0 
			 Gloucestershire 90 30 
			 Greenwich(11) 500 340 
			 Hackney(11) 0 0 
			 Halton 0 0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham(11) 520 420 
			 Hampshire 50 10 
			 Haringey(11) 1,290 1,360 
			 Harrow(11) 150 180 
			 Hartlepool 0 0 
			 Havering 190 100 
			 Herefordshire * * 
			 Hertfordshire 340 90 
			 Hillingdon(11) 570 170 
			 Hounslow(11) 120 190 
			 Isle of Anglesey CC 0 0 
			 Isle of Wight * * 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 
			 Islington(11) 1,400 520 
			 Kensington and Chelsea(11) 390 270 
			 Kent 3,020 460 
			 Kingston Upon Hull 40 10 
			 Kingston Upon Thames(11) 60 80 
			 Kirklees 30 10 
			 Knowsley 10 10 
			 Lambeth(11) 980 740 
			 Lancashire 10 * 
			 Leeds 70 20 
			 Leicester 110 60 
			 Leicestershire 50 20 
			 Lewisham(11) 460 450 
			 Lincolnshire 100 20 
			 Liverpool 180 70 
			 Luton 460 130 
			 Manchester 450 180 
			 Medway 20 10 
			 Merthyr Tydfil County 0 0 
			 Merton(11) 160 200 
			 Middlesbrough 80 10 
			 Milton Keynes 80 30 
			 Monmouthshire County * 0 
			 Neath Port Talbot * 0 
			 Newham(11) 1,110 1,130 
			 Newport County (South Wales) 20 10 
			 Norfolk 110 30 
			 North East Lincolnshire 60 10 
			 North Lincolnshire * * 
			 North Somerset 10 * 
			 North Tyneside 20 10 
			 North Yorkshire 10 * 
			 Northamptonshire 580 110 
			 Northumberland 0 0 
			 Nottingham 110 20 
			 Nottinghamshire 20 * 
			 Oldham 10 10 
			 Oxfordshire 490 140 
			 Pembrokeshire 0 0 
			 Peterborough 60 30 
			 Plymouth 10 10 
			 Poole 0 0 
			 Portsmouth 150 30 
			 Powys CC 0 0 
			
			 Reading 240 80 
			 Redbridge(11) 670 330 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 20 * 
			 Rhondda Cynon Taff County 10 * 
			 Richmond Upon Thames(11) 570 260 
			 Rochdale 20 10 
			 Rotherham 30 10 
			 Rutland 10 * 
			 Salford 80 40 
			 Sandwell 250 50 
			 Sefton 20 10 
			 Sheffield 320 120 
			 Shropshire * 0 
			 Slough 340 190 
			 Solihull 10 * 
			 Somerset * * 
			 South Gloucestershire 10 10 
			 South Tyneside * * 
			 Southampton 310 50 
			 Southend on Sea 210 100 
			 Southwark(11) 1,100 500 
			 St. Helens * 0 
			 Staffordshire 80 10 
			 Stockport 20 10 
			 Stockton On Tees * 0 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 50 * 
			 Suffolk 20 10 
			 Sunderland 20 10 
			 Surrey 210 40 
			 Sutton 110 80 
			 Swansea City and County 0 0 
			 Swindon 60 20 
			 Tameside 20 * 
			 Telford and Wrekin 20 * 
			 Thurrock 90 30 
			 Torbay 0 0 
			 Torfaen CBC 0 0 
			 Tower Hamlets(11) 700 250 
			 Trafford 20 10 
			 Vale of Glamorgan 10 * 
			 Wakefield 50 10 
			 Walsall 20 10 
			 Waltham Forest(11) 470 360 
			 Wandsworth(11) 110 220 
			 Warrington * 0 
			 Warwickshire 90 20 
			 West Berkshire 10 *0 
			 West Sussex 120 20 
			 Westminster(11) 490 370 
			 Wigan 10 * 
			 Wiltshire 10 10 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead * * 
			 Wirral 0 * 
			 Wokingham 10 * 
			 Wolverhampton 20 10 
			 Worcestershire 40 10 
			 Wrexham 0 0 
			 York 10 * 
			  
			 Total 26,230 14,180 
		
	
	(9) All figures rounded to the nearest 10. Figures between 1 and 4 are represented by a *. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
	(10) Supported as at end of September 2001.
	(11) Greater London
	Note:
	Figures by government office region are not available.

Chipboard Manufacture

George Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research his Department has commissioned on the environmental impact of chipboard manufacture.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	Responsibility for environmental matters rests with the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Environment Agency. Neither DEFRA, the Environment Agency, nor the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have commissioned any research into the environmental impact of chipboard manufacture.

Local Public Service Arrangements

John Gummer: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to extend local public service arrangements to district councils.

Nick Raynsford: The Government are keen to involve districts in local PSAs, but believe that better outcomes can be achieved through co-operation between county and district councils than by districts acting alone. It therefore offers incentives to encourage county councils to work with their districts in drawing up and implementing their local PSAs. Most of the county councils involved in the roll-out of local PSAs to top tier authorities have involved their districts, including Suffolk county council, whose local PSA was recently agreed. There are no plans to extend local PSAs to districts alone.

Social Services

Clive Efford: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list those London boroughs that are anticipating overspending on their social services budgets in this financial year.

Christopher Leslie: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Social Exclusion

Angus Robertson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the EU Advisory Committee on the implementation of the community action programme to combat social exclusion is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	The Programme Committee set up under the programme of Community action to encourage co-operation between member states to combat social exclusion is next due to meet on 10 October 2002. The United Kingdom members of the Committee are two named DWP officials. Representatives of the Scottish Executive are not, and have not been, members.

TREASURY

Energy Efficiency

Barbara Follett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the Government propose to take forward their Budget announcement to consider ways in which economic instruments might be used to improve household energy efficiency.

John Healey: A consultation document "Economic instruments to improve household energy efficiency" will be published today on the Treasury website. Copies are also available in the Libraries of both Houses. Responses to this consultation, which should be sent to HM Treasury by 8 October, will help to inform the Government's policy development in this area.

Public Finances

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the members of the Public Sector Classifications Committee; and if he will make a statement on the process by which they were selected.

Paul Boateng: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Chope, dated 16 July 2002
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the list of members of the Public Sector Classification Committee, and the process by which they were selected. (70512)
	The Public Sector Classification Committee's members are selected for their National Accounts expertise. Most are automatically entitled to membership through holding particular jobs in The Office for National Statistics. The committee may co-opt others in particular cases if their areas of expertise are relevant. The membership is:
	Head of National Accounts Group (chair)
	Head of National Expenditure & Income Division (vice-chair)
	Head of National Accounts Co-ordination Division
	Head of Balance of Payments & Financial Sector Division
	Head of Short-term Output Indicators Division
	Head of Public Sector Accounts Branch
	Expert on Gross Domestic Product
	Expert on Financial & Sector Accounts
	Expert on Gross National Income
	Others as appropriate.

Public Finances

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the statement by the Head of National Accounts at the Office for National Statistics publicised in a news release of 11 July on responsibility for deciding on classifications in the monitoring and control of public finances.

Paul Boateng: The Office for National Statistics is responsible for classifying institutions and transactions for national accounts in accordance with international guidelines. Ministers have decided to adopt national accounts definitions in the monitoring and control of public finances. Similarly in the EU, the Council has decided to adopt national accounts definitions in the Maastricht Treaty, its protocols, and in the Stability and Growth Pact.

Employer Liability Insurance

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from companies in high-risk sectors on their ability to secure cover for mandatory employer liability insurance; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The Government do not generally intervene in the terms and conditions of insurance policies. There is no statutory requirement for insurers to offer particular types of cover.
	The Government are aware that some companies are experiencing difficulties in obtaining employers liability cover and are monitoring the situation closely.

Contingent Liabilities

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there are limits on the extent to which the devolved Administrations can enter into contingent liabilities.

Paul Boateng: It is for the devolved Administrations to manage their contingent liabilities from within their existing Departmental Expenditure Limits if the contingent liabilities materialise.

Tax Contracts

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff of the Inland Revenue have investigated and monitored (a) negotiated tax contracts for individuals and companies, (b) tax domicile status and (c) multinational company transfer pricing in each year since 1996.

Dawn Primarolo: I regret that this information is not available.

Tax Returns

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals have entered into agreements with the Inland Revenue in each year since 1997 to pay a specified sum in tax in lieu of submitting an annual tax return; what the rationale is for this policy; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue have not entered into agreements that absolve individuals from the general obligation to submit an annual tax return. Under Inland Revenue's power of care and management agreements of the type described were entered into and intended as a practical basis for taxing future income and gains where there would otherwise have been particular difficulties in establishing an exact figure. The Inland Revenue are no longer making these agreements.
	No central records were kept of these agreements at the time they were made, but the number of individuals so far identified to have been covered by them in the years in question is as follows:
	1997: 7
	1998: 4
	1999: 3
	2000: 2.
	These figures include one case (covering four individuals, in 1998) that has come to light following recent publicity. Agreements in other cases have also covered the tax affairs of more than one individual.

Working Families Tax Credit

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the administrative cost of replacing the working families tax credit with the working tax credit and the child tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the revised Regulatory Impact Assessment for the new tax credits which is available in the Library and from the Inland Revenue's website www.ir.gov.uk.

Working Families Tax Credit

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the proportion of fraudulent claims for working families tax credit which result in prosecution in each of the last three years.

Dawn Primarolo: The Revenue's approach to compliance is based on the progressive use of civil penalties and it prosecutes in more serious cases of fraud.
	The table gives the numbers of cases investigated which were found to be non-compliant, the number of penalties imposed and the number prosecuted in the last three years.
	
		
			   As at 31 March  
			  2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Cases found to be non-compliant 250 5,213 8,595 
			 Penalties imposed 3 237 524 
			 Successful prosecutions 0 2 29

Working Families Tax Credit

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much compensation has been paid as a result of working families tax credit fraud since 31 December 2001.

Dawn Primarolo: The information cannot be supplied in the form requested.
	As with other parts of the tax system the Inland Revenue Code of Practice (COP 1) allows for certain exceptional payments to be made to working families tax credit (WFTC) applicants where they suffer loss or inconvenience as a result of mistakes in dealing with their application. The Inland Revenue classifies the compensation payments it makes according to the nature of the complaint: for example, delay or mistake.

Working Families Tax Credit

Frank Roy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families receiving working families tax credit have an allowed claim for child costs.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of recipients of the working families tax credit (WFTC) who benefit from the child care tax credit is shown in Table 1.3 of each WFTC Quarterly Enquiry, copies of which are in the Library.

Working Families Tax Credit

Colin Challen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are claiming working families tax credit, expressed as a percentage of the working population in (a) Leeds and (b) each of the English regions.

Dawn Primarolo: For the number of recipients of working families tax credit in each region and local authority, quarterly from May 2001, I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Jarrow (Mr. Hepburn), on 16 January 2002, Official Report, column 293W.
	Estimates of the average population in employment in the same areas in the year to February 2001 appear in the January 2002 issue of Labour Market Trends. Quarterly estimates for regions, most unitary authorities and larger districts appear in the labour Force Survey Quarterly Supplement. Copies of these publications are in the Library. All these estimates are based on the Labour Force Survey, and are subject to sampling uncertainty.

Working Families Tax Credit

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made of the accuracy of the estimates in the 'Tax Credits Act 1999 and Accompanying Regulations: Regulatory Impact Assessment', published in December 1999 of the costs for employers of administering the working families tax credit; and if he will place the assessment in the Library.

Dawn Primarolo: The accuracy of the estimates is being assessed through a survey of employees, which is part of the working families tax credit and disabled person's tax credit evaluation programme.

Working Families Tax Credit

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor) on 13 June 2002, Official Report, columns 1393–94W, for what reasons the figures for the cost of advertising the working families tax credit are lower than the figures offered to the former hon. Member for Guildford (Sue Doughty) on 22 June 2000, Official Report, column 288W.

Dawn Primarolo: The figures for working families tax credit given to the hon. Member for Guildford (Sue Doughty), included other promotional activity such as a freephone helpline, while the figures given to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor) included only direct advertising expenditure.

Budget Summary

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on designing, producing and distributing the Budget 2002 summary leaflet; and to whom it was distributed.

Dawn Primarolo: The Budget 2002 summary leaflet was designed, written and edited by Treasury officials. The costs of production and distribution of the leaflet were met from within Departmental Expenditure Limits and amounted to approximately £208,000.
	The leaflet is available free of charge from the Treasury and is published on the Treasury website. Copies of the leaflet were also distributed nationwide through libraries, educational establishments, citizens advice bureaus, Jobcentres, NHS hospitals, GPs' surgeries, and other organisations.

Expenditure

Barbara Follett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Inland Revenue department's Vote on Account provision for 2002–03 will be sufficient to finance spending until Royal Assent to the Appropriation Act later this summer.

Dawn Primarolo: Royal Assent to the Appropriation Act was given on 8 July. Prior to that point, the overall Vote on Account provision for the Inland Revenue Estimate was sufficient in terms of both resources and cash to finance spending until Royal Assent. However, the Valuation Office Agency's Request for Resources (RfR) 4 had consumed £500,000 more resources than anticipated in the Vote on Account because of a change in the profile of the liabilities.
	The increase in resources was offset by lower resource consumption on RfR1 enabling resource consumption on the Estimate as a whole to remain within the overall Vote on Account resource provision. The net cash requirement remained unchanged.
	
		Vote on account provision -- £
		
			  Before After Change 
		
		
			 RfR1 1,006,990,000 1,006,490,000 -500,000 
			 RfR2 — — — 
			 RfR3 93,600,000 93,600,000 — 
			 RfR4 14,045,000 14,545,000 500,000 
			  
			 Total 1,114,635,000 1,114,635,000 0

Child Poverty

Ben Chapman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on recent steps taken to alleviate child poverty.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government's annual anti-poverty report, "Opportunity for All" shows progress on a range of poverty and social exclusion indicators linked to child poverty—low-income, worklessness, health, education and housing—each of which is reflected in a short-term Public Service Agreement (PSA).
	The Government will continue to make progress towards their goal of eradicating child poverty with the introduction in April 2003 of two new tax credits— the child tax credit and the working tax credit. The Government are also making substantial investment in services for children.

Poverty Policy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are planned in relation to the Government's poverty policy.

Dawn Primarolo: This Government are committed to halving child poverty by 2010 and abolishing it within a generation. As a result of personal tax and benefit changes announced since 1997, by April 2003 the poorest families with children will be on average £2,400 better off in real terms.
	To make further progress towards its eradication goal, Government are introducing two new tax credits—the child tax credit and the working tax credit—in April 2003. The Government are also making substantial investment in services for children.
	The Government are also committed to tackling pensioner poverty. It has introduced the minimum income guarantee and is committed to raising it in line with earnings throughout this Parliament. From 2003, the pension credit will enable those with a modest amount of second pension or savings to gain on average just over £400 a year.

Tax Credits

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library the reply from HM Treasury to the Statistics Commission, dated 2 July, to the Head of Profession for Statistics at HM Treasury concerning tax credits; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: Yes. I have arranged for the Treasury's reply to the Statistics Commission to be placed in the Library.

Horse Breeding

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide tax reliefs for (a) the horse breeding industry and (b) stallion owners, similar to those which exist in Ireland.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government keep all taxes under review as part of the normal Budget process.
	In the UK, racehorse owners, including breeders, already benefit from the VAT Registration Scheme for Racehorse Owners which allows owners, breeders, dealers and trainers who generate business income through horseracing, to register for VAT and thus recover the full VAT costs on the purchase and training of their horses. In addition to this stud farming is treated as farming for tax purposes and is therefore subject to special reliefs such as the Agricultural Buildings Allowance and Agricultural Property Relief.

Pensions (Public Servants)

Roy Beggs: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the (a) full-time and (b) part-time public servants for whom no occupational retirement pension provision exists; whether such provision will be made by Her Majesty's Government; and if he will make retrospective pension arrangements for such public servants.

Dawn Primarolo: Most public servants now are covered by occupational pension schemes and any that are not have access to stakeholder pensions. Individuals may opt out of their employer's pension arrangements.
	Precise eligibility for membership is a matter for the individual pension schemes. Since 1995 public service occupational schemes have been required to provide access to part-timers. Where eligibility has been extended retrospective membership has not usually been allowed unless it is legally required.
	A recent ECJ ruling on the Preston case, concerning a part-timer working for the NHS who claimed retrospective admission, means that many thousands of part-timers will be admitted into public service scheme prior to 1995, once the outstanding legal issues have been resolved in the Employment Tribunals.

Health Funding

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of health care systems in other countries funded by charges and private medical insurance.

Paul Boateng: Further to the answer given by my predecessor (Mr. Andrew Smith) on 15 April 2002, Official Report, column 772W, in April Derek Wanless published a study commissioned by his review on international health care systems, considering health systems in individual countries around the world.
	A copy of this study, prepared by the European Observatory on Health Care Systems, is available in the Library and can be accessed from the Treasury's website at: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/mediastore/otherfiles/ observatory_report.pdf.

False Identity

Peter Lilley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the (a) estimated annual number of people and (b) amount of tax unpaid by people using false identities, broken down by (i) VAT, (ii) other Customs and Excise duties and (iii) Inland Revenue taxes; and how much he estimates would have been prevented if everyone had been required to possess an ID card.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue do not keep records of the number of people specifically using false identifies involving VAT, Customs or Excise frauds or in connection with tax evasion.

Savings Tax Directive

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in negotiations to encourage non-EU countries to adopt measures equivalent to the Savings Tax Directive.

Dawn Primarolo: The Presidency and Commission of the European Union are now engaged in negotiations with all of the third countries named in the Conclusions of the European Council when meeting in Santa Maria da Feira on 20 June 2001 (Switzerland, United States of America, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Andorra and San Marino). The ECOFIN Council reported to the Seville European Council on 21–22 June on progress in the negotiations, and this report can be found on the Council's website, www.europa.org.

Companies (Ilford, North)

Linda Perham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many VAT-registered companies in the Ilford, North constituency have an annual turnover of £100,000 or less.

John Healey: Customs data on VAT registered traders is maintained on a national and regional basis. Each of the seven Customs regions incorporates a number of parliamentary constituencies. It would involve disproportionate cost to produce this turnover data in the format requested.

Higher Rate Taxpayers

Colin Challen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many higher rate taxpayers there were in (a) Leeds, (b) Yorkshire and Humber and (c) London expressed as a percentage of the total population of each area in each of the past 10 years;
	(2)  what percentage of the population of (a) Leeds, (b) Yorkshire and Humber and (c) London have an income (i) twice, (ii) three times, (iii) four times, (iv) five times and (v) more than five times the national average in each of the past 10 years.

Dawn Primarolo: Available estimates are in the tables.
	
		Number of higher rate taxpayers(12) as a percentage of the total population(13) for the respective geographical areas
		
			  Leeds Yorkshire and Humber(14) London UK 
		
		
			 1995–96 3.0 2.5 5.3 3.6 
			 1996–97 2.8 2.5 5.2 3.5 
			 1997–98 2.7 2.4 5.3 3.6 
			 1998–99 3.2 2.7 6.0 4.0 
			 1999–2000 3.7 2.8 6.4 4.2 
		
	
	(12) Number of higher rate taxpayers based on the Survey of Personal Incomes.
	(13) Source for population estimates: Office for National Statistics, General Register Office for Scotland, and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
	(14) Government Office Region of Yorkshire and the Humber.
	
		Number of individuals(15) with total income over twice GB average earnings(16) as a percentage of the total population(17) for the respective geographical areas
		
			  Leeds Yorkshire and Humber(18) London UK 
		
		
			 1995–96 1.8 1.5 4.1 2.5 
			 1996–97 1.7 1.4 3.9 2.4 
			 1997–98 1.7 1.4 3.6 2.2 
			 1998–99 1.8 1.4 3.5 2.2 
			 1999–2000 1.6 1.4 3.3 2.1 
		
	
	
		Number of individuals(15) with total income over three times GB average earnings(16) as a percentage of the total population(17) for the respective geographical areas
		
			  Leeds Yorkshire and Humber(18) London UK 
		
		
			 1995–96 0.7 0.6 1.9 1.0 
			 1996–97 0.7 0.6 2.0 1.0 
			 1997–98 0.6 0.6 1.8 0.9 
			 1998–99 0.7 0.5 1.6 0.8 
			 1999–2000 0.6 0.5 1.6 0.8 
		
	
	
		Number of individuals(15) with total income over four times GB average earnings(16) as a percentage of the total population(17) for the respective geographical areas
		
			  Leeds Yorkshire and Humber(18) London UK 
		
		
			 1995–96 0.4 0.3 1.2 0.6 
			 1996–97 0.4 0.3 1.2 0.6 
			 1997–98 0.3 0.3 1.1 0.5 
			 1998–99 0.3 0.3 1.0 0.5 
			 1999–2000 0.2 0.2 1.0 0.4 
		
	
	
		Number of individuals(15) with total income over five times GB average earnings(16) as a percentage of the total population(17) for the respective geographical areas
		
			  Leeds Yorkshire and Humber(18) London UK 
		
		
			 1995–96 0.2 0.2 0.9 0.4 
			 1996–97 0.3 0.2 0.9 0.4 
			 1997–98 0.2 0.2 0.8 0.3 
			 1998–99 0.2 0.2 0.7 0.3 
			 1999–2000 0.2 0.1 0.7 0.3 
		
	
	(15) Number of individuals based on the Survey of Personal Incomes.
	(16) Average earnings based on the New Earnings Survey.
	(17) Source for population estimates: Office for National Statistics, General Register Office for Scotland, and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
	(18) Government Office Region of Yorkshire and the Humber.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her oral answer of 26 June 2002, Official Report, column 866, what the result is of her inquiries into the use of landmines by Afghan cultivators to protect poppy crops; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: Inquiries into the use of land mines by poppy cultivators in Afghanistan indicate that this was predominantly a case of rumour to disrupt the crop eradication programme. There has been only one reported incident since the start of the eradication campaign: on 22 April 2002 25 people were injured, seven seriously when a land mine was detonated in a poppy field in Uruzgan. Two deaths were reported but these were not verified. Casualties included people undertaking the crop eradication.
	Both the Afghan Transitional Administration and the international community remain committed to the eradication of the opium poppy and the development of alternative livelihoods for all poor people in Afghanistan.

World Summit on Sustainable Development

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if the UK Government with other EU member states will encourage other Governments to join the 'Everything But Arms' proposal at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.

Clare Short: The European Union's 'Everything But Arms' initiative provides all Least Developed Countries with duty and quota free access. As of 1 January 2003, the Government of Canada will extend duty free and quota free access to all imports except dairy products, poultry and eggs from the Least Developed Countries. The European Union is committed to pressing other OECD countries to also provide the Least Developed Countries with duty and quota free access. The World Summit on Sustainable Development will provide another opportunity for the EU to press for this.

Education for All

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what resources to support the Education for All programme were agreed at the G8 Summit.

Clare Short: At Kananaskis, G8 leaders undertook to significantly increase the support provided by their bilateral aid agencies to basic education for countries with a strong policy and financial commitment to the sector, particularly in Africa; but no specific sums were pledged. Leaders agreed that each G8 donor will make public the steps it will take to fulfil this commitment. And they viewed the World bank's Fast Track proposal as a welcome first step in mobilising financial resources for countries committed to Education for All and demonstrating credible performance.
	G8 Leaders also called upon the World bank and the Regional Development banks to provide additional support to countries that have made a strong commitment to education and gender equality, and have a proven track record of strong management or are demonstrating strong management progress.

Education for All

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to ensure that qualified teachers in developing countries are encouraged to contribute to the Education for All initiative in their own countries.

Clare Short: Attaining universal primary education by 2015 will require a major increase in the supply and retention of trained teachers. National governments will need to determine appropriate policies and strategies for achieving this. Teachers' salaries absorb a very large share of education expenditure and in many countries national resources will need to be supplemented by external financing. We believe the international community should provide recurrent expenditure support for basic education to countries that are clearly committed to Education for All and are demonstrating strong management of their resources. The World bank's Fast Track initiative provides an opportunity for accelerating such support and we are working closely with the bank on taking this forward.

Education for All

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contribution her Department is making to the Education for All initiative.

Clare Short: The Government believe that education is a basic human right which enables people to transform their own lives and the society in which they live. Education also has a vital role to play in enabling developing countries to achieve the levels of economic growth that are necessary for tackling poverty and achieving sustainable development. We are strongly committed to the Millennium Development Goals on education: achieving universal primary education by 2015 and eliminating gender disparities in primary and secondary schooling by 2005. We believe that these goals are achievable if the governments of poor countries implement effective policies and receive the right assistance from the international community.
	Since May 1997, DFID has committed over £700 million to support primary education for poor people. We are using these funds to support national education policies which form part of developing country governments' broader poverty reduction strategies. We want to see an end to the fees and other costs which have prevented many poor children from attending school in the past. We also seek a commitment from developing country governments to prioritise primary education, especially of girls, in their own spending plans.
	The Government are also working to mobilise the international community in support of Education for All. Our aim is to achieve consensus by the end of 2002 on well co-ordinated international action for mobilising new resources and better co-ordinated programmes designed to meet this goal. We are working with the World bank to develop its new Action Plan for accelerating progress towards Education for All. We believe the Action Plan's fast-track initiative marks an opportunity to try to ensure that no country genuinely committed to economic development, poverty reduction and good governance is denied the chance to achieve universal primary education through lack of resources.
	DFID is committed to further increasing UK support for basic education, particularly in Africa. We will continue to work with the World bank to support their fast-track proposals. Our target Strategy Paper "The challenge of universal primary education" and Issues Paper "Children Out of School" provide further details of DFID's policy and proposals.

World Bank/IMF Programmes

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development by when the World bank and IMF will report on their analysis of the poverty and social impact of substantial macro-adjustments or structural reforms supported by their programmes in poor countries.

Clare Short: The International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) of the Board of Governors of the IMF Communiqué of April 20, 2002 noted the importance of using poverty and social impact analysis and will be reviewing the progress that the World bank and IMF have made on this issue at its next meeting. This will be at the annual meetings of the World bank and IMF in autumn 2002.
	To date, progress on integrating PSIA in developing countries' poverty reduction strategies has been reported in "Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers—Progress in Implementation", a bi-annual report prepared by the World bank and IMF. The next such report will be for the annual meetings of the IMF and World bank, scheduled for 28–29 September 2002.

Self-employed Women's Association

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funds have been allocated to the Self-employed Women's Association in India for work (a) in the state of Gujarat and (b) in the rest of India.

Clare Short: DFID has allocated to the Self-employed Women's Association (SEWA) about £15,000 for work in Gujarat on alternative resources for rainwater harvesting, and £17,000 to support the work of the National Labour Commission in helping women and child workers. SEWA has also been allocated £26,000 to support activities in Gujarat to help respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Sierra Leone

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action has been taken (a) through bilateral assistance and (b) through co-operation with international agencies working in the region to ensure that armed combatants fleeing Liberia do not destabilise Sierra Leone.

Clare Short: Effective procedures are already in place to disarm combatants fleeing Liberia, and hand them over to the responsible authorities.

Common Agricultural Policy

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the impact of the European Commission's proposal for CAP reform on farmers in developing countries; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: The UK Government welcome the publication of the European Commission's proposals for CAP reform. The UK Government recognise the need for CAP reform in order to ensure that developing countries' agriculture sectors are given the right incentives to grow and thus support poverty reduction. My Department is currently analysing these proposals, to determine their impact on developing countries. This analysis will then feed into the UK's response to the proposals.

Fair Trade

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what she estimates the World Summit on Sustainable Development will do to promote fair trade between developed and developing countries.

Clare Short: The Government will be pushing for an outcome which is consistent with the Doha Development Agenda. This resulted in the following achievements:
	Agreement on TRIPS and public health, recognising the need for a flexible interpretation of TRIPS to enable developing countries to protect public health.
	Action on some 50 measures from the developing countries' implementation agenda from the Uruguay Round.
	On agriculture, commitment to real progress on market access and action on export subsidies.
	Continuing negotiations on services, which offer real prospects for developing countries to make substantial benefits through liberalisation and economic growth.
	Commitment to tackle tariff peaks, high tariffs and tariff escalation as well as non-tariff barriers on non-agricultural products.
	A commitment to a work programme on trade, debt and finance.
	Systematic attention throughout the text to the issue of capacity-building.
	A comprehensive set of commitments on the particular needs of the least-developed countries, including a commitment to the objective of duty and quota free market access plus a commitment to make their accession process faster.
	A review of Special and Differential Treatment—across all WTO business areas—to strengthen these provisions and make them more precise, operational and effective.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Departmental Expenditure Limit

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much and what proportion of the departmental expenditure limit for 2002–03 had been spent by 31 May; what the figures were for 2001–02; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Boateng), on 17 June 2002, Official Report, column 130W.

Buildings Insurance

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost of buildings insurance to his Department was (a) before and (b) after 11 September 2001.

Ian McCartney: Departments are required to comply with the Government's policy on insurance, which is set out in Government Accounting, Chapter 30, para 30.2.5, which notes that government do not need to purchase insurance to protect the viability of its business, and should consider insurance only where the value of claims met would exceed the cost of insurance premiums. Commercial insurance of a building is acceptable in cases where (a) insurance is a condition of a lease (b) the lessor will not accept a Government indemnity (c) incurring the total cost of the accommodation in question, including the cost of the insurance, is more cost-effective than other accommodation options [Government Accounting, para 30.2.11a].
	The only circumstance where the Department incurs insurance costs is where this is a condition of a lease, with payment being made as part of the service charge paid to the landlord. Information on these charges is not held centrally.

Comprehensive Spending Review

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff have contributed to his Department's input to the Spending Review.

Nick Brown: The Spending Review involves a comprehensive assessment of the Department's performance, priorities and resource requirements and a range of staff make a contribution.

Child Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families failed to respond to the child benefit verification form sent to parents in the summer of 2001; and of these how many have lost benefit.

Malcolm Wicks: Each summer an exercise is carried out to verify the education plans of those children approaching the end of compulsory education. A form is issued asking the parents of these children to confirm the child's continuance in education, and to report a change of circumstances, applying, where appropriate, for continuing payment of benefit. There is no requirement to return the form as benefit entitlement will automatically cease from September. This procedure ensures those parents whose child is continuing in full-time education continue to receive child benefit uninterrupted.
	In June 2001, 411,000 forms were issued, of which 197,000 were returned applying for continuing benefit. 60,000 were returned notifying that the child had commenced employment or training. In the remaining cases child benefit would cease from September.

Child Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information the Government have collated about the use of child benefit in families where there are young people aged between 16 and 19 years.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department for Work and Pensions has not collected information about how families with children aged 16 to 19 years use their child benefit.

Child Benefit

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take measures to allow the payment of child benefit to continue beyond 12 weeks when parents choose to have a child educated in a country outside the European Economic Area without the written approval of the school which the child previously attended; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 15 July 2002
	There are no plans to change the provisions on child benefit for children being educated abroad outside the European Economic Area (AWAY). Generally child benefit is not payable for children who are absent from Great Britain (GB), and the current rules provide for most exceptions. The written approval of the school the child normally attends ensures there is a continuing link with GB throughout the temporary absence. Although entitlement for children being educated in non AWAY countries ceases after they have been absent for 12 weeks, if they return for home visits and then go abroad temporarily again, a new 12 week easement begins.

Disabled Access

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of (a) the number of village halls requiring adaptation and (b) the estimated total cost of such adaptations to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, so far as access is concerned.

Maria Eagle: A village hall is covered by Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act where it provides services to the public. We have made no separate assessment of the number of village halls requiring adaptations or the costs involved.
	All service providers, including village halls, will only ever have to do what is reasonable to meet their access obligations. There is no question of unreasonable costs being imposed on village halls, or on any other service provider. The Disability Rights Commission will act as a source of information and guidance to service providers, like Village Halls, and the Commission's Code of Practice—Rights of Access: Goods, Facilities, Services and Premises provides examples of good practice and how the Act is likely to work.
	Making adjustments to assist disabled customers need not necessarily be costly or difficult. Recent research commissioned by the Disability Rights Commission and the Department for Work and Pensions, with co-funding from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, has examined the costs and benefits to service providers when making adjustments to meet the needs of their disabled customers and clients (DWP Research Report 169).
	The research surveyed a UK-wide representative sample of 1,000 establishments in scope of Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act. The establishments surveyed covered a range of sectors, including public and private sector organisations. The research found that for many service providers that had made adjustments costs were not seen as the dominant issue when making adjustments. The research identified a wide range of types of adjustments, and found that the costs of these adjustments varied significantly depending on the type. For most kinds of adjustments, the mean initial costs lay between £100 and £1,000. The mean on-going costs for most adjustments lay below £100 per annum.

Contributory Maternity Benefits

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent on contributory maternity benefits in each of the last 30 years; and which categories of national insurance contributions generated eligibility to such benefits in each year.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 2 July 2002
	Maternity benefits are being reformed as part of the Government's drive to help pregnant women and parents financially and to achieve a better balance between their work and home lives.
	The improvements introduced by the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 mean that entitlement to maternity allowance is now based on a woman's earnings and that help is extended to women earning at least £30 a week but less than lower earnings limit applied to national insurance contributions. As a result of these changes, an additional 16,000 low-paid expectant mothers a year can get maternity allowance. Our reforms have also increased maternity allowance by 15 per cent. for around 11,000 self-employed women who previously received less benefit than employed women.
	Prior to 20 August 2000, entitlement to maternity allowance was based on the payment of either Class 1 or Class 2 national insurance contributions by the mother within the relevant qualifying period.
	We have also introduced Sure Start Maternity Grants to help people on low incomes meet the cost of buying essential items for a new baby. These grants have been increased this year to a significant £500 for babies due or born on or after 16 June 2002. The new scheme means more than just a cash payment. Mothers and expectant mothers also receive health advice for themselves and, importantly, for their child.
	Prior to March 2000, Social Fund Maternity Payments were available to women or families in receipt of qualifying benefits or tax credits. These payments replaced the maternity grant in April 1987. Between 1982 and 1987 eligibility for the maternity grant was based solely on a test of residency in Great Britain. For confinements taking place before 4 July 1982, eligibility for the maternity grant was linked to the contribution record of either the mother or her husband using national insurance contributions of any class.
	The information on expenditure on contributory maternity benefits is in the table.
	
		Expenditure on contributory maternity benefits -- £ million
		
			   Maternity allowance Maternity grant 
		
		
			 1972–73 42 18 
			 1973–74 42 17 
			 1974–75 47 16 
			 1975–76 55 16 
			 1976–77 81 15 
			 1977–78 92 15 
			 1978–79 105 16 
			 1979–80 125 16 
			 1980–81 149 16 
			 1981–82 158 16 
			 1982–83 152 (22)16 
			 1983–84 141 — 
			 1984–85 161 — 
			 1985–86 164 — 
			 1986–87 168 — 
			 1987–88 51 — 
			 1988–89 27 — 
			 1989–90 30 — 
			 1990–91 34 — 
			 1991–92 31 — 
			 1992–93 32 — 
			 1993–94 33 — 
			 1994–95 27 — 
			 1995–96 29 — 
			 1996–97 33 — 
			 1997–98 36 — 
			 1998–99 38 — 
			 1999–2000 38 — 
			 2000–01 (23)45 — 
		
	
	(19) Figures are expressed in cash terms to the nearest £1 million.
	(20) Statutory maternity pay was introduced in 1987 replacing maternity allowance for most employees.
	(21) Figures are consistent with the Budget 2002 expenditure tables.
	(22)
	,
	(23) Conditions of entitlement to maternity grant and maternity allowance changed during the course of the financial years 1982–83 and 2000–01 respectively. Figures include expenditure under both the contributory and non-contributory conditions.
	Source:
	Departmental reports and benefit forecasting model development. Maternity grant expenditure prior to 1978–79 is estimated from the published number of grants in each financial year.

Large Goods Vehicle Drivers

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department is doing to provide training for large goods vehicle drivers.

Nick Brown: Our welfare to work initiatives provide unemployed people with a range of help to overcome the barriers they face in the labour market. National programmes such as Work Based Learning for Adults (WBLA), the New Deal 25 plus and the New Deal for Young People can offer participants training opportunities tailored to their needs so they have the skills they require to find and remain in work.
	Each Jobcentre Plus District is responsible for identifying training requirements for their unemployed clients, and for putting provision in place, including training for heavy goods vehicle drivers. If such provision is not in place in a particular area, Districts have the discretion to purchase 'one-off' training to meet an individual's need.
	In the East of England and East Midlands Jobcentre Plus regions, there are a total of 478 contracts to deliver training and related programmes to unemployed adults, including those in my hon. Friend's constituency. These contracts cover many occupational areas, such as construction, manufacturing and transportation. Heavy goods vehicle training is in place in most Districts in the regions through WBLA and New Deal 25plus.
	Action Teams for Jobs and Employment Zones are helping disadvantaged people in the most deprived areas of the country into work. They give help tailored to the needs of individual clients, developing innovative ways to help people overcome the barriers they face when looking for work. This has included paying for heavy goods vehicle training where this has been judged to be the most effective way to help the people concerned into work.

Child Benefit Centre (Tyne and Wear)

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many telephone inquiries were made to the Child Benefit Centre in Washington, Tyne and Wear during 2001.

Malcolm Wicks: The number of telephone calls made to the Child Benefit Centre's helplines between January 2001 and December 2001 was 2,589,348.

Benefit Fraud

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many successful prosecutions for fraud involving housing or council tax benefit were undertaken by local authorities in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 15 July 2002
	For the number of successful prosecutions for benefit fraud I refer my right hon. Friend to the written answer given to him on 23 May 2002, Official Report, column 542W. Local authorities are not required to inform the Department of prosecutions which are subsequently abandoned or result in an acquittal.

Benefit Fraud

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff were employed by local authorities to investigate suspicions of fraud involving housing or council tax benefit in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is in the table.
	
		
			  Average total number of fraud investigators (full-time or full-time equivalent) employed by local authorities 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,990 
			 1998–99 2,170 
			 1999–00 2,140 
			 2000–01 2,160 
		
	
	Note:
	Information is not available for all 408 local authorities. The total includes estimates for local authorities that have not responded. These estimates are based on historical and regional data. This type of estimate is standard practice in reporting totals where there have been non-respondents.
	Source:
	Housing Benefit Management Information System

Child Support

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will amend the Child Support (Maintenance and Special Cases) Regulations 1992, Schedule 1 Part II Para 7, to exclude working families tax credit awards from the assessment of child support maintenance.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 15 July 2002
	No. There are no plans exclude working families tax credit awards from the assessment of child support maintenance. It is only fair that the same level of income in different cases should be treated the same for assessment (current scheme) or calculation (new scheme) regardless of the source of that income.

Child Support

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received about the inclusion of working families tax credit awards in the assessment of child support maintenance.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 15 July 2002
	Some individual clients have written to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, to their MP, or to the Agency commenting adversely that awards of working families tax credit are taken into account for the non-resident parent's income, but not for that of the Parent with Care. No organised representations have been made.

Child Support

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of how long it will take to transfer existing cases to the new child support scheme for calculating maintenance payments made by non-resident parents.

Malcolm Wicks: No decision on the date for the commencement of the new child support scheme has been taken. The Government have made clear that they will see how the new scheme is progressing before reaching a decision on new cases, but our current assumption is that existing cases will convert to the new scheme around a year after the new scheme is introduced for new cases.

Child Support

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the average sum in maintenance paid by non-resident parents under the child support scheme which existed prior to April; and how many of these will see their payments (a) increased and (b) decreased under the new child support scheme, with an average calculation made of increase and decrease.

Malcolm Wicks: The available information is in the table.
	
		Average maintenance paid in the current child support scheme
		
			 Number of qualifying children Average per week (£) 
		
		
			 One 7.98 
			 Two 10.65 
			 Three 10.23 
		
	
	Note:
	Includes nil assessments.
	Source:
	5 per cent. scan of the Child Support Computer System August 2001.
	It is not possible to make firm estimates of the change to the average payment of child support maintenance as a result of the introduction of the new child support scheme.

Benefits (East Dorset)

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the total cost of housing benefit paid in (a) Christchurch borough and (b) East Dorset was in each and of the last five years;
	(2)  what the total cost of council tax benefit paid in (a) Christchurch borough and (b) East Dorset was in each of the last five years.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is in the tables.
	
		Christchurch borough council: Housing benefit and council tax benefit expenditure -- £000
		
			  Housing benefit Council tax benefit 
		
		
			 1995–96 5,436 1,271 
			 1996–97 5,548 1,255 
			 1997–98 5,782 1,453 
			 1998–99 5,890 1,576 
			 2000–01 6,079 1,691 
		
	
	
		East Dorset district council: Housing benefit and council tax benefit expenditure -- £000
		
			  Housing benefit Council tax benefit 
		
		
			 1995–96 6,294 1,894 
			 1996–97 6,486 1,845 
			 1997–98 6,809 2,057 
			 1998–99 6,765 2,179 
			 2000–01 7,091 2,298 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.
	2. The figures for 2000–01 are provisional. All other figures are actual annual expenditure but are subject to change as local authority activity is fully audited.
	Source:
	Annual subsidy returns by local authorities to the Department for Work and Pensions and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Benefits (East Dorset)

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in receipt of retirement pension in the Christchurch constituency receive payment of their benefit (a) directly into their bank accounts and (b) through local post offices.

Ian McCartney: The available information is in the table:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 All methods of payment 29,600 
			 Payment by Order Book 12,300 
			 Payment by automatic credit transfer 17,100 
			 Other 200 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
	2. Figures under 500 are subject to a high degree of sampling variation and should be used only as a guide tot he current situation.
	Source:
	Figures taken from the Pensions Strategy Computer System on 30 September 2001.

Benefits (East Dorset)

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the Christchurch constituency are eligible for the minimum income guarantee; and how many are in receipt of it.

Ian McCartney: Estimates of the number of people eligible for the Minimum Income Guarantee are not available below National level. As at February 2002 there were 2,300 Minimum Income Guarantee claimants in parliamentary constituency of Christchurch.
	Source: Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry February 2002

Income-related Benefits

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people in (a) the north-west, (b) Lancashire and (c) Burnley were claiming housing benefit at the latest date for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many people in (a) the north-west, (b) Lancashire and (c) Burnley had claimed (i) jobseeker's allowance and (ii) income support at the latest date for which figures are available.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is in the table.
	
		Income-related benefit recipients in north-west England, Lancashire and Burnley
		
			   Government Office Region of North-west England Lancashire Burnley 
		
		
			 Housing Benefit 515,000 63,000 7,000 
			 Jobseeker's Allowance 119,000 14,000 1,000 
			 Income Support 579,000 79,000 8,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.
	2. Lancashire figures for Housing benefit refer to the local authorities of Burnley, Chorley, Fylde, Hyndburn, Lancaster, Pendle, Preston, Ribble Valley, Rossendale, South Ribble, West Lancashire and Wyre. Figures for jobseeker's allowance and income support include all or part of the following parliamentary constituencies which fall within Lancashire boundaries: Blackpool North and Fleetwood, Burnley, Chorley, Fylde, Hyndburn, Lancaster and Wyre, Morecambe and Lunesdale, Pendle, Preston, Ribble Valley, Rossendale and Darwin, South Ribble and West Lancashire.
	3. Burnley figures refer to Burnley borough council area for housing benefit and Burnley parliamentary constituency for jobseeker's allowance and income support.
	4. Housing benefit figures refer to households which may be a single person, a couple or a family. More than one household can live in one property, for example two or more adults in a flat or house share arrangement.
	5. Housing benefit figures exclude any Extended Payment cases.
	6. Jobseeker's allowance figures have not been seasonally adjusted.
	7. Income support figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	Sources:
	Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. case load count, February 2002 (figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated);
	100 per cent. count of Jobcentre Plus computer system, May 2002.
	Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, February 2002.

Devolution

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the EU Advisory Committee on employment is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Employment Committee is next due to meet on 18 July 2002, which will be an informal meeting under the Danish Presidency. Each member state has two nominated delegates to the Committee and for the UK those represent the Departments of Work and Pensions and for Education and Skills. The main business of the Committee is the European Employment Strategy and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has lead responsibility for the Strategy. However, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills has a significant interest, as do my right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, the Scottish Executive Ministers, Secretaries of the National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Executive Ministers.
	There is close contact between relevant officials to ensure that ministerial responsibility is properly represented at the Employment Committee and, indeed, on any activity under the Employment Strategy. For example, the main UK output under the Strategy is the UK Employment Action Plan and the devolved Administrations actively contribute. The Plan will be discussed with the European Commission in the autumn and the devolved Administrations have been invited to attend that meeting.

Basic Bank Accounts

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a copy of his reply to the letter from the FSA Consumer Panel on their report into basic bank accounts.

Andrew Smith: A copy of my Private Secretary's letter of 17 May 2002 to the Chairman of the Financial Services Consumer Panel has been placed in the Library.

Social Fund

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what plans his Department has to review the operation of the social fund with respect to those benefit recipients whose income is marginally above the basic income support level; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans his Department has to review the operation of the Social Fund as far as access thereto on the part of 16 and 17-year-olds is concerned; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Social Fund plays an important role in the welfare system by helping the poorest and most vulnerable people in our society with the cost of intermittent expenses. Access to the Social Fund is therefore generally limited to people receiving income- related benefits or, in the case of Sure Start Maternity Grants and Social Fund funeral payments, tax credits. Crisis loans are available to anyone where there is a serious risk to their health or safety.
	We keep all elements of the Social Fund under review to see whether further improvements can be made to its operation and to ensure that the Fund supports our wider welfare reforms. However, we have no plans to broaden the eligibility criteria.

Jobcentre Plus

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether it will be part of the duties of Jobcentre Plus staff to provide assistance with completing application forms for the new tax credits.

Nick Brown: Yes. From 2003 customers, if they choose, will be able to have their new tax credits business (including assistance with claim form completion) dealt with by Jobcentre Plus staff.

Jobcentre Plus

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assistance he intends Jobcentre Plus staff will provide to people who do not have the information and evidence of income they are required to provide in connection with an application for new tax credits.

Nick Brown: From 2003 Jobcentre Plus staff will help people complete their new tax credits claims, including the income information they need to supply. Guidance for staff will therefore cover all the options available in helping people calculate the income details they need to enter on the claim form.
	The help available from Jobcentre Plus will complement that provided by the Inland Revenue and the comprehensive guidance to the new tax credits claim form.

Jobcentre Plus

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what programme of training will be provided to Jobcentre Plus staff on the new tax credits.

Nick Brown: All Jobcentre Plus staff dealing with NTC business will receive a full package of training so that they can provide people with information about new tax credits, and assist with new tax credits claims and related inquiries.

Occupational Pension Schemes

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action he is taking to bring occupational pension schemes under the jurisdiction of TUPE.

Alan Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government carried out full public consultation at the end of last year on the proposed reform of the TUPE Regulations. The issue of the Regulations' coverage of occupational pension rights was one of those on which comments were sought. We are currently considering the responses received and hope to announce our decisions shortly.

Local Government Councillors

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many elected local government councillors are registered disabled; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: I have been asked to reply.
	There is no longer a register of disabled people. However, the 2001 National Census of Local Authority Councillors in England and Wales carried out by the Improvement and Development Agency indicates that just over 13 per cent. of [the 21,268] councillors consider themselves to have a disability.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Law Commission Report

Adrian Flook: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2002, Official Report, column 257W, when he will announce his decision concerning Law Commission report No. 270.

Yvette Cooper: The Government accept in principle the Law Commission's recommendations on limitation of actions, subject to further consideration of certain aspects of its report, and will legislate when a suitable opportunity arises.

Freedom of Information Act

David Lepper: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she plans to publish guidance on publication schemes under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for central Government and non-departmental public bodies.

Yvette Cooper: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his question. I am pleased to inform the House that I have today published guidance for Central Government and non-departmental public bodies on Publication Schemes under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Copies of the Guidance have been placed in the House Library.

CABINET OFFICE

Fast Stream Recruitment

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he will publish the 2002 Civil Service Fast Stream Recruitment report.

Douglas Alexander: The seventh annual Civil Service Fast Stream Report was today placed on the Cabinet Office website at www.faststream.gov.uk and in the Libraries of the House. It covers the year from 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002, and reports the results of Fast Stream competitions completed during that period and the developments that have taken place.
	The standard of entry to the Fast Stream Development Programme has remained consistently high and the report shows that the Civil Service has had increasing success in filling its vacancies. In addition there has again been steady progress in broadening the diversity of Fast Stream recruits. Women and men were recruited in equal numbers and the proportions of those recruited from ethnic minority groups, those with disabilities, and those attending universities other than Oxford and Cambridge have all increased.

SCOTLAND

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions between 31 March 2001 and 31 March 2002 (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity; what places were visited; and how much each visit cost.

Helen Liddell: One special adviser accompanied me on a trip to Brussels in October 2001. The cost to my Department was £545.87.
	All travel by special advisers is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code.

Regulatory Impact Unit

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many members of her Department have been employed in its regulatory impact unit in the past five years; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office does not have a regulatory impact unit. Staff in the Department maintain contacts with the regulatory impact unit in the Cabinet Office as required.

Crown Estates Commissioners

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations she has received about the role of the Crown Estates Commissioners in Scotland.

Helen Liddell: One representation on this subject has been received.